Darious dropped some candy while they were crossing Schoenersville Road, which is a six-lane highway in that area. He ran back to get it and was struck by a northbound vehicle thought at that time to be a silver or grey Honda. The vehicle failed to stop and fled the scene.
Colonial Regional Police, Hanover Township EMS and Fire, Bethlehem Township EMS and Fire Police from Hanover Township, Lehigh County, were dispatched to the area, where lifesaving measures were performed on Darious. He was transported to St. Luke's Hospital in Fountain Hill, where he succumbed to his injuries.
After the Friday night tragedy, the roadway was closed for four hours as Pennsylvania State Police recorded the crash scene and collected forensic evidence.
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| Atkins' Mazda on October 21, from his Facebook page. |
This morning, Detective SGT Mike Melinsky received an anonymous tip implicating Royce Atkins, age 22, of the 4700 block of Kathi Drive in Hanover.Atkins had told the tipster he had hit a deer. Officers visited the residence, and while no one was at home, police did locate a vehicle in the garage. By looking through a window, they saw heavy front end damages that appeared to be consistent with the crash
In the meantime, Detective Gary Hammer located Atkins at Scott Mazda, where he is employed as a certified technician. When Detective Hammer identified himself, Atkins admitted he was the person who had hit the child before being asked a question. He cooperated with police, providing a written statement.He also pulled his vehicle out of the garage for Hammer, who noticed it was the same color as a trim piece found at the scene. It is a 2007 slate blue Mazda.
Atkins has been charged with failure to stop in an accident involving death or personal injury, a second degree felony with a mandatory minimum sentence of three years in prison and mandatory minimum fine of $2,500. He has also been charged with careless driving, a summary offense.
As Chief Seiple was announcing these charges, Atkins was being booked and is currently imprisoned on $50,000 bail, with a 10% release option.
Seiple stated there is no evidence that drugs or alcohol is involved, but their investigation is continuing and additional charges may be filed. Police are seeking a search warrant for the car's "black box," an event data recorder that may shed more light on what happened.
Families of both the defendant and the victim are well respected in Hanover Township. "It is a tragedy for both their families," observed Township Manager Jay Finnigan. The victim's and defendant's homes are just 2.8 miles apart.
Noting that these are "trying circumstances," Colonial Regional Police Commission Chair Glenn Walbert said it is "gratifying to see such professionalism by our police department."
A GoFundMe page for Darious' funeral expenses has collected $10,230 in just two days.
(Story originally published at 7:12 pm).
30 comments:
"Police are seeking a search warrant for the car's "black box," an event data recorder" .
Wonder how many people know some of their cars have this lovely tool on board?
When you buy a car, are you told that there is an event recorder? what other info /date is recorded ?
I am all for frying this guy and any one else who did what he did,but a black box recorder? who knew.
May God Bless both families. This is horrible.
Well, these are not GPS devices, though they are sometimes called a narc-in-the box. They mainly tell when brakes are applied and provide other data. I believe their main use is in accident investigation.
"Police are seeking a search warrant for the car's "black box," an event data recorder" .
Wonder how many people know some of their cars have this lovely tool on board?
When you buy a car, are you told that there is an event recorder? what other info date is recorded ?
I am all for frying this guy and any one else who did what he did,but a black box recorder? who knew.
10:27 PM
Now you know, so you have no excuse.
Did the older people with the young boy let him cross that crazy street? That is a six lane highway and the idea of walking across it sounds crazy. It was dark and the lighting sucks. The guy did hit and run so that is on him. Had he stayed, hard to know if he would have been charged. I have seen kids and sadly some adults actually walk out into that road while traffic is flying by.
Bad result fro all involved.
I think that this clears up some of the speculation after the first news accounts. The boy was accompanied by two teens who are probably blaming themselves. The WaWa is just a quarter mile from his home. He did dart out into the road for some candy, and it is very possible there is nothing that Atkins could have done to prevent what happened. He obviously panicked and made a very poor decision, and will have to pay the price for that, regardless whether the accident was his fault. There will be a mandatory three yer jail sentence. Police did an outstanding investigation, which is continuing, but it appears at this time that neither alcohol nor drugs was a factor. The families of both the victim and Defendant are good people who live close to each other, and this is a tragedy for them both. I am not going to trash the victim or the Defendant.
They should investigate to see if Atkins was at PJ Whelehans or some other bar south of the accident before the incident. He may have fled the scene because he was DUI and knew the consequences of hitting someone in that condition. He would have faced far more serious charges than just hit and run.
There have been reports that some people involved in these sort of accident shaver not stopped due to fear of people taking justice into their own hands. Some people have no self control and are prone to violence.
Still he could have driven to a police station and reported it if he feared for his safety.
@12:15,
It was reported that he had just left Sheetz, and drugs or alcohol were not suspected. The Sheetz parking lot is a gathering place for young drivers and cars much like the one involved. On weekend nights it's nearly impossible to find a parking space for paying customers; during the summer, it's just about every night.
Bernie
What heartbreak.
Too bad. This kid is going to come out of prison worse then he went in. He should have stopped.
It is unfortunate that individuals who don't know all the circumstances of this tragic event weigh in on this site, Lehigh Valley Live, MCall, 69 News, etc. and criticize all involved.
It is a traffic event for all parties. Both families are suffering. Wait till all the facts to come in before reaching any conclusions.
12:15 AM comment about PJ Whelehans.....
I don't like to write comments but when I read something written from an ASSHOLE that has no clue what they are writing and at 12:15 AM talking so stupid may have been at a bar themselves. I personally can say the driver never drinks and drives to the best of my knowledge. He panicked and made a very bad choice that will haunt him for the rest of his life. So you honestly think he feels very good about himself. I am from the direct area of the accident and as an adult I would not cross that street there especially in the dark and never let even my 14 you child cross that street there. Even at a traffic light I have seen multiple people run red lights. VERY DANGEROUS ROAD and an illegal place to cross. By the way, he was at Sheets hanging with friends so that is where he left from. Last time I was in there the hardest thing they serve is Red Bull. Keep Bullshit uneducated comments to yourself. I also want to thank Bernie for being compassionate in your blog and not passing judgement.
What parents let a NINE YEAR old cross that kind of 'highway' any time of day let alone at night when it's dark. Heck, 14 or 15 year olds probably shouldn't be doing it either!
I can't believe the parents need $22,000 for a funeral. Seriously?????
9:56, Let's not pass judgment on the family of the young man whose life was taken, either. There are pedestrian crossings there. I am sure his family members, his cousin and his are blaming themselves as well. One person's life is gone. Another person's life is ruined. These appear to all be good people. Had my grandson been just a few years younger, he might have played football with or against Darious. Had he been a few years older, he might have been friends with Royce.
10:12 & 10:16 appear to be assholes, too. That GoFundMe page was not set up by the parents, but a community that cares. There are pedestrian crossings in that area. Let's stop being so judgmental about this tragedy. Try to rise above the quality of LVL commenters if you can.
Individuals set up GoFundMe sites. The quotes on the site are from the family. GoFundMe takes 8% of all money raised. They set an initial goal, and once that is reached the site automatically stretches it to the next level. The funding recipient and site both benefit from increasing funding levels. The family deserves to have a nice funeral for this child. Who knows what their plans are for the rest of the money? Donors do not care. If they use the money to help their family heal, I have no problem with it. Perhaps they will set up a special charity in Darious' memory. But at this time the family should not be questioned about their motives. If you feel they are playing the system, then don't donate.
"It was reported that he had just left Sheetz, and drugs or alcohol were not suspected. The Sheetz parking lot is a gathering place for young drivers and cars much like the one involved. On weekend nights it's nearly impossible to find a parking space for paying customers; during the summer, it's just about every night. "
From his Facebook page, he is obviously a car enthusiast who loved that Mazda. He has several photographs of it and seems like a very nice young man who made a very bad decision that will haunt him the rest of his life. Darious was active in sports and looked to me like he may have had a career as an athlete, but is family will never have a chance to see him grow up.
The biggest assholes in these stories like these are the anonymous cowards who come on sites like these to condemn people about whom they know nothing.
Bernie, you can tell by a couple pictures of a 9-year-old that he 'may have had a career as an athlete' ?
Really? You're now a part-time professional scout? You can tell that about someone in 3rd grade???
12:14 lighten up.
12:14, Don't bring your hatred of me into this. I looked at his Facebook page. The young man loved football and basketball and was a running back in youth sports.
I assumed the knock at P.J. W's was a knock by the Blog Mentor. But there must be more jerks out there?
Terrible tragedy for two families.
That said, what an awful place to try to cross. I hate even exiting (with car) onto that road north from the Oasis because of the traffic both ways.
Two mistakes were made here.
VOR
The knock at PJ W was from a very informed person as to the incident who knows facts. And it sucks too see people write such ignorant comments.
Bernie there was no judgement passed to the parents in the comment that I personally would not cross the street there and I personally would not allow my 14 year old child to cross. It is terrible what those parents are going through and I feel for them and I also feel for the driver who hit that hit and killed that little boy. I apologize if my comment offended anyone that was not my intention.
I believe this boy lived in the small modular home community that is tucked away in the industrial park in Hanover Twp. LC. It is a quirky development surrounded by warehouses. He was likely used to crossing busy roads but erred in judgement by stopping quickly to retrieve a dropped candy bar. But full blame must be assigned to the driver. He was not paying attention to road obstructions, for reasons that hopefully will be investigated thoroughly.
This is the first time I've read your column, and thank you for being objective and fair. This is quite simply a tragedy that will haunt these families forever. It's heartbreaking. And to the writer who suggested that a scared 22-year old who just made the worst mistake of his life should "fry"...shame on you. I hope every decision you, and every member of your family has made has been beyond reproach. Lots of unfortunate decisions and tragic circumstances came together in a perfect storm on a horrible day. Let's have compassion for everyone, and talk to our own kids about trusting us to help them make the right choices when life makes it most difficult to do so.
Mentor, give it a fucking break. You need a psychologist.
The little one had a bike too I don't know if they all did
Though initial accounts reported that his bike was at the scene, Chief Seiple dispelled the notion that they had ridden their bikes. One of Darious' cousins rode it there after hearing of the accident. I should have noted that in this story.
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