An 8-year-old girl walking to school in Broward County was hospitalized Monday after being struck by a hit-and-run driver who police described as a habitual traffic offender, officials said.
According to Hallandale Beach Police, the incident occurred shortly before 7:30 a.m. in the 800 block of Southwest 3rd Street.
Witnesses told police that a black Mercedes struck the child, who was walking to school, while traveling east on the roadway
Surveillance video showed the girl crossing the street two blocks away from Gulfstream Academy.
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The driver of the vehicle, 37-year-old Berdy Lubin, stopped to check on the child before fleeing the scene, police said. He was later taken into custody.
“I thought the car hit the garbage can but the garbage can didn’t move but I see the baby flying," said witness Andre Malek. "She was in such shock. She was hurt. She could have a broken leg, broken hip, broken back even.”
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The child was transported to Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in serious but stable condition, police said. She had a broken arm and some scrapes.
Lubin is facing a host of charges, including leaving the scene of an accident causing injuries, being a habitual traffic offender and driving without insurance or registration. Court records show he has a lengthy criminal record for traffic violations, battery and drug offenses.
“Staying on the scene of an accident is always the best thing to do," Captain Megan Jones of the Hallandale Beach Police Department said. "It helps you provide for your side of events as to how it occurred but also you’re looking out for someone else. Imagine if it was your child that was hit. You would want somebody to stay as well.”
The investigation is ongoing.
