Massachusetts

12-Year-Old Girl Hurt in Hit-and-Run; Accused Driver Has 2 Previous OUIs

The child was struck around 5:00 p.m.

A 12-year-old girl was seriously injured when she was hit by an SUV driven by a drunk driver in South Boston on Saturday afternoon, according to Massachusetts State Police.

The child was hit just before 4:30 p.m. in the area of 395 Old Colony Ave. and taken to Tufts Medical Center with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Attleboro resident Richard Higgins, 78, was placed under arrest for operating under the influence of alcohol after he allegedly hit the victim with his 2001 Ford Explorer.

Neighbors said that Higgins was pinballing - hitting parked cars on the side of the road - shortly before striking the victim.

Higgins already has two OUIs and initially fled the scene in his car until police apprehended him by the Koskiuzco rotary, authorities said.

Witnesses, who said the girl lives in a nearby apartment complex with her mother, tell NBC Boston the 12-year-old was walking in the crosswalk when she was hit, and that the impact caused her to fly over three cars before landing on the sidewalk.

State police are investigating the incident.

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