5-Year-Old Girl in Brookings Injured in Hit-and-Run Bicycle Accident

A 5-year-old girl was injured in a hit-and-run accident on Tuesday in Brookings. The girl, who was riding a Strider bicycle, was struck by a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 27-year-old Lindsay Johnson.

The accident occurred at the intersection of Medary Avenue South and Fifth Street South. The girl was traveling northbound with her family when Johnson’s Jeep turned south onto Medary Avenue without stopping. The Jeep clipped the girl on her left side, but she was wearing a helmet and was able to keep herself from falling off her bike.

The girl was taken to Brookings Health System for minor injuries. Johnson was arrested at her home and charged with failing to report an accident.

Police are reminding drivers to be extra careful when driving in areas with a lot of pedestrians and cyclists. “With the nice weather and school being out, there is an influx of people out and about,” said BPD Detective Adam Smith. “We want to remind drivers to pay attention to their surroundings and be aware of cyclists and pedestrians.”