ALLENTOWN, Pa. – A man is being accused of hitting a child and her grandmother in a crosswalk in Allentown with his vehicle, then leaving the scene.
Tyler Allan Monzietti, 24, of Tobyhanna, faces multiple charges, including felony counts of Aggravated Assault by Vehicle and Accidents Involving Death or Personal Injury – Serious Bodily Injury/Death and misdemeanor charges of Accidents Involving Death or Personal Injury and Recklessly Endangering Another Person, the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
An arrest warrant was issued and Monzietti surrendered on Monday, the DA’s office said.
On the afternoon of May 16, Allentown Police were called to the area of N. 6th and West Hamilton streets for a crash involving two pedestrians, according to the DA’s office.
The DA’s office said the driver was later identified as Monzietti.
Video surveillance cameras showed that around 5:40 p.m., Monzietti left an Allentown bar and restaurant at N. 7th and Hamilton streets and got into his Jeep that was parked on the southside of West Hamilton Street, according to the news release.
Just before the crash, Monzietti’s vehicle was stopped for a red light in the right-hand lane of West Hamilton Street at the intersection with N. 6th Street but had his left turn signal on, the DA’s office said.
According to the DA’s office, a Ford SUV was stopped at the same red light in the left-hand lane next to Monzietti.
A child and her grandmother were standing at the northeast corner of the intersection waiting for the pedestrian signal to indicate that they had the right of way, according to the DA’s office.
As the signal changed to the “walk” indicator, the child and her grandmother entered the crosswalk on the north side of the intersection traveling westbound, according to the news release.
Video surveillance showed that as the light turned green, Monzietti accelerated his Jeep rapidly from the right-hand lane, while screeching his tires, the DA’s office said.
The DA’s office said he illegally crossed in front of the Ford SUV which had started to move forward.
Monzietti narrowly missed the Ford SUV but continued to make the illegal left-hand turn into the intersection where he hit both the child and her grandmother in the crosswalk, according to the DA’s office.
The video showed Monzietti’s vehicle hit both victims with the front passenger corner, propelling both victims forward where they landed in the street, the DA’s office said.
The video shows Monzietti getting out of his vehicle and running over to see the child bleeding from her face, according to the news release.
The DA’s office said Monzietti then gets back into his Jeep and immediately leaves the scene northbound on N. 6th Street. City surveillance cameras showed Monzietti driving around for approximately 20 minutes, before Monzietti eventually returns to the scene of the crash and identifies himself to an officer, according to the DA’s office.
Authorities said the child suffered maxillary fractures, a mandibular fracture and had several teeth knocked out of her jaw.
An Allentown Police officer on scene was able to save several of the child’s teeth by going to a nearby restaurant and putting them in a glass of milk, according to the news release.
The DA’s office said those teeth were able to be reattached due to the officer’s actions.
The grandmother also suffered abrasions to her hands, fingers and knee, the DA’s office said.
Monzietti was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Michael D’Amore and was released without having to post any bail; conditioned only upon his written agreement to appear for future court appearances, according to the DA’s office.
Monzietti’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. on June 30 before District Judge D’Amore.