Daily Freeman (Kingston, NY)

Mom out of ICU; driver remains jailed

Baby born after Fourth of July accident being monitored for breathing issues

- Freeman staff

The 20-year-old woman who was struck by a car while walking with her toddler and two other children after the city’s Fourth of July fireworks has been released from intensive care after giving birth to a premature baby, a Kingston police official said Thursday.

The woman, who was eight months pregnant, gave birth early Wednesday at HealthAlli­ance Hospital’s Broadway Campus in Kingston, and she remains a patient there, according to Kingston Police Detective Lt. Thierry Croizer. (Police initially reported the woman was taken to Albany Medical Center and gave birth there.)

The infant was transferre­d to Albany Medical Center because of concerns about its breathing, Croizer said. The toddler, an 18-month-old girl, also is at Albany Med.

The other two children in the accident, ages 9 and 12, have been released from Albany Medical Center and the HealthAlli­ance Broadway Campus,

respective­ly.

The woman and the three children, none of whose names have been provided by police, were struck by a car as they crossed Broadway in Midtown Kingston, near the Ulster Performing Arts Center, about 10:20 p.m. Tuesday. Police said they

were in a crosswalk at the intersecti­on of Broadway and Field Court.

The driver of the car, Robert A. Russell, 59, of Liberty Street, Kingston, has been charged with the felony of vehicular assault, the misdemeano­r of driving while ability impaired by drugs, the violation

of failing to yield the right of way to pedestrian­s and other vehicle and traffic violations, police said. Police have not said what drug or drugs Russell allegedly took.

Russell remained in the Ulster County Jail late Thursday afternoon in lieu of $10,000 bail.

The woman was pushing the 18-month-old girl in a stroller when the group was struck, Croizer said. Photos from the scene show a stroller lying on its side in the street in front of a car near UPAC.

All four victims were conscious when police arrived at the scene Tuesday

night.

Croizer said broken bones were among the injuries, and “we’re always concerned about [possible] head injuries.”

Informatio­n was not available about whether the 9-year-old and 12-yearold were related to the woman or to each other.

 ?? PHOTO BY JOHN BECHTOLD ?? A stroller (far right) lies on its side in front of a car near UPAC on Broadway in Midtown Kingston, N.Y., after the Tuesday night accident.
PHOTO BY JOHN BECHTOLD A stroller (far right) lies on its side in front of a car near UPAC on Broadway in Midtown Kingston, N.Y., after the Tuesday night accident.

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