A grand jury indicted 55-year-old Jeffrey J. Atkinson of Dayton on one count each of endangering children, aggravated vehicular assault, vehicular assault, failure to stop after an accident and OVI, according to Montgomery County Common Pleas Court records. The OVI charge is a first-degree misdemeanor.
His bond was previously set at $500,000.
Atkinson allegedly hit the girl and her family with his Hummer H3 while he was turning left onto Wayne Avenue from Clover Street around 9:20 p.m. on July 22, according to a crash report filed by Dayton police.
“This case to me is very disturbing,” Heck said. “It’s very maddening to me. As parents we like to think that our children are safe with us.”
The 9-year-old girl was in the crosswalk with another 9-year-old girl and a 44-year-old woman carrying a 1-year-old girl, according to the crash report.
The girl’s mother was one of the multiple 911 callers who reported the pedestrian strike.
“Frantically the mother had no idea where her daughter was because this car kept dragging her blocks down the street,” Heck said.
The girl and her bike were pinned under Atkinson’s Hummer and were dragged for about half a mile before she became dislodged on South Keowee Street near East Fifth Street.
Witnesses near the intersection reportedly flagged down a police officer who found the girl and called for medics.
While waiting for help, the girl told an officer she didn’t want to die, Heck said.
“No child, especially a 9-year-old child, should have to think that way and endure that,” he said.
The girl had extensive injuries to both her legs, and she lost her left foot and a portion of her leg, Heck said.
While she is continuing to recover in the hospital, there is a chance she could lose her second leg, he said.
Police responded to Cowboys Lido Bar at 4308 Springfield St. after other witnesses followed Atkinson.
“They attempted to administer standardized field sobriety tests,” Heck said. “However, he stopped them and said, ‘Eff it I’m drunk. I did it.’”
Police observed Atkinson had a strong smell of alcohol on his breath, a flushed face with bloodshot, glassy eyes and was unsteady with slurred speech, according to Dayton Municipal Court records. He also reportedly had urine-soiled clothes and was remorseful.
Atkinson was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and remained in custody as of Thursday afternoon. He is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday.
Minor injuries were also reported to the two other girls and woman allegedly hit by the Hummer. The two girls were taken to Dayton Children’s Hospital for treatment.
About the Author