A toddler was one of nine people hurt late last night when an allegedly drunk driver smacked into the group as they were crossing a New Jersey highway after a soccer match, police said.
Two people were in critical condition at Meadowland Hospital after the 11:50 p.m. accident on Route 120, near the new Meadowlands stadium, and seven others, including the 22-month-old, were in stable condition at Hackensack Hospital.
Frank Morocho, 21, of the Bronx allegedly fled the scene after ramming his SUV into the crowd and was later nabbed in nearby Wallington, N.J, after local police spotted his damaged vehicle.
Morocho was charged with driving while intoxicated, assault by auto, aggravated assault on a juvenile and leaving the scene of an accident. He was being held at Bergen County Jail on $50,000 bail.
The pedestrians were trying to get to their cars in the nearby Izod Center parking lot after the sold out Mexico vs. Ecuador soccer match at the new Meadowlands Stadium, and were crossing the highway instead of waiting for a shuttle bus, according to news reports.
There is an overpass for pedestrians on Route 120 but the victims weren’t using it.
“That’s not a highway meant for a pedestrian crossing,” New Jersey State Police Det. Brian Polite said.