Newark officials: Suspect arrested in hit-and-run that injured toddler – News 12 New Jersey

NEWARK –

Newark officials say an Essex County man is behind bars, accused of hitting a toddler with his pickup truck and leaving the scene.

Police arrested 26-year-old Romane Errol Sr., of Newark, hours after allegedly hitting-and-running over 2-year-old Eno Itiro outside of her Brookdale Avenue home in Newark Sunday morning.

Surveillance video shows the moment a white pickup truck struck toddler and then sped away. Errol is accused of driving the truck.

Soon after the incident, two more cars drove down the street. The drivers called police when they saw the girl lying there.

Jameson Itiro is the child’s father.  He says the family was getting ready for church, and there was a miscommunication with his wife at the time of the incident.

“Her mom thought she was with me. I thought she was with her mom,” he says.

The family lives right across the street from the church. Jameson Itiro was home while his wife was inside the church with the couple’s 1-month-old little girl. Once the mother found out her other child had been hit, she rushed to the child’s side.

Moments later, detectives located the pickup truck just a short distance away from the scene.

Errol has been charged with fourth-degree operating a motor vehicle without a valid license and causing serious bodily injury.

He’s expected to go before a judge soon.

The toddler was taken to University Hospital with rib fractures and collapsed lungs, and is in critical condition.