Thomas Breen photo
At the Cold Spring-Livingston intersection Tuesday.
(Updated) A Wilbur Cross early childcare staffer and a young child “sustained fractures” after two adults and three kids were hit by a car while on a walk near the school — leading the center to temporarily stop its neighborhood walks.
The incident occurred this past Friday, Oct. 18, at 10:20 a.m. at the intersection of Cold Spring Street and Livingston Street in East Rock, according to New Haven Police Department spokesperson Officer Christian Bruckhart.
Bruckhart told the Independent that five individuals — two adults and three children — were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries after the incident occurred.
Those five people were affiliated with the child care center that is based out of Wilbur Cross High School at 181 Mitchell Dr. They were walking near the school.
“The driver remained on scene and was issued an infraction for failing to grant the right of way,” Bruckhart reported.
One adult suffered a broken arm; one toddler suffered a left pelvic fracture.
According to New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) spokesperson Justin Harmon, all five individuals were released from the hospital. One teacher and one child “sustained fractures,” and the other teacher is still receiving follow-up tests.
Harmon also told the Independent that a social worker assigned to the child care center drove the program director to the hospital Friday to visit the injured staffer and the families of the impacted children.
The child care center is overseen by partnerships with the United Way and Early Head Start programs. It is made available to NHPS student parents throughout the district, and serves children aged six weeks to three years old. The center was founded nearly three decades ago.
Representatives of United Way and Early Head Start, Wilbur Cross Principal Matt Brown, and Asst. Supt. Paul Whyte also offered support to the child care staffer on site on Friday, according to Harmon.“They have been in regular touch over the weekend and into the new week,” he said.“The director has been in constant touch with all involved.”
During a phone interview on Tuesday, Robin Moore-Evans, the executive director of the childcare program, which is officially called the Elizabeth Celotto Child Care Center, said that the center’s employees met with families Tuesday morning to answer questions.
Since the crash, the center has decided to pause its neighborhood walks, which were used to provide children learning experiences outdoors and to teach them how to use cross-walk signals.
Now the center plans to provide its 19 enrolled youth with outdoor experiences at the center’s onsite gated playground. It was also given access to Cross’s courtyard as a result of its current pause on neighborhood walks. Moore-Evans noted that the center would only take its students on neighborhood walks when the weather is above 32 degrees.
Moore-Evans concluded that the center staff always have pedestrian safety in mind and even teach the children how to use cross-walk signals and recognize stop signs. “Folks driving in the area and that are driving throughout the city should pay attention to stop signs,” she said. “Don’t coast or slide through. Actually stop.”