A teenage girl in Eliot, Maine, is recovering after being the victim of a hit-and-run incident that left her unconscious in a ditch. The driver, 82-year-old Leon Benton, is now facing charges following the accident, which occurred on Wednesday afternoon.
According to the Eliot Police Department, the 13-year-old girl was walking along Worster Road to meet her sister at the bus stop around 3:30 p.m. Before the bus arrived, Benton drove past the girl. He later told authorities that he had fallen asleep at the wheel and was jolted awake after hearing a noise, believing he had struck a tree along the side of the road. However, he continued driving without stopping.
The young girl was left unconscious in a cold ditch, where she remained for about 20 minutes before her sister, who had been dropped off by the bus, discovered her. The sister managed to help her sibling home, where their mother called the police. Officers arrived at the scene, where they found debris from the vehicle. The police traced the vehicle back to Benton, who lives nearby.
Sergeant Ron Lund of the Eliot Police Department explained that the investigation is ongoing, including whether Benton expressed any remorse for leaving the scene. Thankfully, the girl was later transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital, where she underwent tests. Though in pain, she is reported to be in stable condition. The sergeant added that the situation could have been much worse, noting that the girl was fortunate to have not been run over entirely.
Benton has been charged with leaving the scene of a personal injury accident and is scheduled to appear in court in April. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of driver awareness and responsibility, especially in residential areas with pedestrians.
