Ohio – A troubling event in Ohio has led to severe legal consequences for 55-year-old J. Atkinson, who struck a 9-year-old girl with his vehicle and dragged her for several blocks. The incident, partially captured on police body cameras, resulted in the child suffering serious injuries. Atkinson faces multiple charges, including two counts of vehicular assault, child endangering, failure to stop after an accident, and operating a vehicle while impaired.
On the evening of July 22, a citizen alerted a police officer about the horrific sight of a vehicle dragging a girl beneath it. The police and emergency services received numerous 911 calls about the incident. In a panic, the victim’s mother reported that her daughter was riding her bike across a crosswalk when she was struck and caught in the vehicle’s wheels, leading to her being dragged down the street for half a mile.
Officers responded quickly, finding the girl at an intersection shortly after the reports. First responders provided immediate aid, applying tourniquets to her severely injured legs. Tragically, the lower portion of her left leg was missing below the knee, and her right leg was also badly injured.
A crucial 911 call from a witness not only reported the incident but also followed the vehicle to a bar about 3.5 miles from the scene. At the bar, multiple witnesses identified Atkinson as he exited. Body camera footage from the arresting officers shows Atkinson admitting he was “too drunk to pass” any sobriety tests, recognizing his impairment even before the tests began.
The footage also showed Atkinson struggling to keep his balance while interacting with police outside the bar. He openly confessed his inability to perform sobriety tests due to his drunken state. His admission was met with angry shouts from bystanders, highlighting the community’s outrage over the reckless endangerment of a child’s life.
Atkinson was taken to jail following his arrest, where he remains on a $500,000 bond. The shocking footage and the circumstances of the case have generated widespread condemnation and reignited discussions about drunk driving. The community has rallied to support the young victim, calling for tougher measures against drunk driving and greater support for the affected family.
As Atkinson faces the consequences of his actions, the community and authorities are working to address the challenges of preventing such devastating incidents in the future. There is hope that this tragic event will drive efforts to improve road safety and enforce stricter penalties for those who endanger lives through reckless behavior.
