Over the past few years, authorities have been issuing calls to the public if they feel that a child is missing and in imminent danger. These missives are known as Amber Alerts, and they are usually released when a child is suspected of being abducted. But police also ask for the public’s help in other cases where kids have been harmed (though not under the auspices of an Amber Alert).
One such incident occurred this weekend in Springfield. Around 5pm on Saturday evening, a Chevrolet Camaro was reportedly traveling east on Melrose Road a couple blocks north of Bunn Park in southeast Springfield. According to police, the car ran a stop sign and collided with a car that was driving north on 16th Street. Three children in the northbound car had to be taken to a nearby hospital with various injuries. The Camaro then reportedly continued east away from the auto accident scene until the road dead-ended near a wooded area, and the driver then jumped out of the Camaro and fled on foot.
Authorities towed the damaged Camaro, but they have not yet been able to determine who was driving it. So a request has been issued to the public to contact Springfield Police if they have any information about the Illinois auto accident. Not only would this bring a hit-and-run driver to justice, but it could also provide the identification of the potential defendant in any future personal injury lawsuits. These lawsuits could be filed by the parents on behalf of their injured kids.
Such legal action would allow the plaintiffs to collect reimbursement for ambulance charges, hospitalization costs, and treatment and physical therapy expenses. If the injuries were severe, the families could also possibly be awarded monetary damages for mental anguish. However, these lawsuits cannot proceed until the driver of the Camaro is positively identified.