Police say a Jeep driver struck a child and her grandmother in an Allentown crosswalk, left the scene and returned nearly 20 minutes later.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A Pennsylvania man is accused of hitting a child and her grandmother in a crosswalk, leaving the scene as the girl lay bleeding in the street, then returning nearly 20 minutes later and identifying himself to police.
Tyler Allan Monzietti, 24, of Tobyhanna, has been charged with aggravated assault by vehicle and numerous related offenses stemming from the May 16 crash in downtown Allentown.
According to investigators, officers were called to the area of North Sixth and West Hamilton streets that afternoon for a crash involving two pedestrians.
Video surveillance showed Monzietti leaving an Allentown bar and restaurant at North Seventh and Hamilton streets around 5:40 p.m. and getting into his 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Police said Monzietti was stopped for a red light in the right-hand lane of West Hamilton Street at North Sixth Street but had activated his left turn signal.
At the same time, a child and her grandmother were waiting at the northeast corner of the intersection. When the pedestrian signal changed to “walk,” they entered the crosswalk.
Investigators said surveillance video showed Monzietti accelerating rapidly when the light turned green, screeching his tires and making an illegal left turn in front of another vehicle.
The Jeep narrowly missed a Ford SUV before striking the child and her grandmother in the crosswalk, police said.
Authorities said the child suffered maxillary fractures, a fractured jaw and lost several teeth in the collision. The grandmother suffered abrasions to her hands, fingers and knee.
Police said Monzietti got out of the Jeep and walked over to the injured child before getting back into the vehicle and driving away north on North Sixth Street.
City surveillance cameras tracked the Jeep for about 20 minutes before Monzietti returned to the scene and identified himself to an officer, according to investigators.
An Allentown police officer at the scene recovered several of the child’s teeth and placed them in a glass of milk obtained from a nearby restaurant, allowing the teeth to later be reattached.
An arrest warrant was issued, and Monzietti surrendered on Monday. He was arraigned and released without posting bail after agreeing to appear for future court proceedings.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 30.
The charges are allegations, and Monzietti is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Key Points
- Police say a driver struck a child and her grandmother in an Allentown crosswalk and left the scene.
- The child suffered facial fractures and lost several teeth in the crash.
- An officer’s quick actions helped save the girl’s teeth, which were later reattached.
