ATLANTA — A driver accused of hitting a 11-year-old with his car near Mercedes-Benz Stadium turned himself in on Friday.
Atlanta police confirmed that Lavar Clinton, 38, is facing a hit-and-run charge for the crash that happened after the Georgia Tech-Clemson game on Labor Day.
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Jonathan Chastain told Channel 2 Action News that he and his two children, an 11-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter, were walking back to their car.
Chastain said that as they were walking, his son Kaine got out ahead of him as they crossed Northside Drive. That’s when a car came barreling out of nowhere and crashed into Kaine.
“He tried to get out of the way, and luckily he was able to get out of the way enough, and all it got was his leg,” his father said.
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Kaine broke his right leg in two places and was taken to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Kaine started physical therapy, but his recovery will be a months-long process.
Police said surveillance footage from the area showed that the car was going through a yellow traffic light just before the crash. Police said the driver hit the 11-year-old before braking for a moment, but continued down the road.
A witness was able to give police a partial license plate number and a Clemson fan stopped to help the family out.
“A random Clemson fan, who happened to be a nurse, stopped to help us. If anyone knows who she is, I would love to find her and tell her, ‘thank you.’”
Police say that the family did not have right of way as they crossed the road. However, since Clinton left the scene, he is being charged.
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