Thursday, November 19, 2009

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Boy injured in hit-and-run accident in Lowell

LOWELL, Mass. -- Police are investigating a hit-and-run accident in Lowell Wednesday that left a 12-year-old boy injured.

Kelvin Savanhmixay was in the crosswalk on Riverside Street -- Route 113 -- near School Street and Mammoth Road around 2:30 p.m. when he was hit.

Savanhmixay was thrown more than 20 feet after being struck and was taken to Lowell General Hospital. He was later flown to Children's Hospital in Boston with serious injuries.

Witnesses told police that two cars were racing when one of them hit the boy in the crosswalk and kept going.

Residents in the area said drag racing along the VFW Highway is nothing new.

"(It's) because it's so long and so straight," said neighbor Stephen Caron. "A lot of people try to beat this straightaway, and people don't stop, people don't stop. They see the yellow light, they hit the gas."

Police will not say if they have identified the drivers who were drag racing, but announced that they have a critical piece of evidence in the case.

"We have found a vehicle in Methuen that we believe currently is the vehicle responsible for the injuries sustained by this young man," said Supt. Kenneth Lavallee, of the Lowell Police Department.

At the boy's home in Lowell, his stepfather said his son is alert following surgery on his leg

"They pulled some foreign object out either from the car or the cement that he had hit but they're waiting for the results from his head and neck because he may have further damage," said Danny, the victim's stepfather.

The 12-year-old also had internal bleeding according to his stepfather.

While the boy remains hospitalized and police continue their investigation, his family says they are not looking for revenge, only justice

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