Investigation ongoing in LG hit-and-run accident

The man police believe was responsible for last week’s hit-and-run accident that injured a young boy is in prison, but he’s there on a probation violation, not charges stemming from the accident.

Lower dwynedd police believe Charles Cohen, 47, of the 6600 block of Montague Street, Philadelphia, was behind the wheel of the 1998 maroon Ford contour that struck an 11-year-old boy on his bicycle on Bethlehem Pike near Cedar Hill Road.

Police responded to the scene at R:30 p.m. Sept. 2R WR finG WKH ERy, wKR Ls D Lower dwynedd resident, lying on the shoulder of the northbound lane, according to police. The vehicle veered out of its lane onto the shoulder, striking the boy on his bicycle, and then did not stop, continuing northbound and dragging the bicycle underneath the vehicle for a couple blocks, according to police.

The boy was airlifted to The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia by PennStar helicopter and suffered non-life-theatening injuries, according to police.

Five witnesses either observed the accident or saw the vehicle’s license plate number, which led police to apprehend Cohen later that evening.

As of Wednesday, Oct. 3, Cohen had yet to be charged in relation to the accident, according to Lower dwynedd police Lt. Paul henny.

“It is still under investigation,” he said. “We’re doing it in conjunction with the GLsWULFW DWWRUnHy’s RIfiFH.”

While charges have not EHHn fiOHG, CRKHn Ls FXUrently in prison because he violated his probation, according to henny.

Cohen plead guilty to DUI charges stemming from a 2006 incident in Lansdale Borough and plead guilty to charges of retail theft in both 2003 and 2004, among other criminal charges he faced in previous years, according to online court records.

“There’s no rush to charge xCohenz since he’s currently in prison,” henny said.

Another reason charges KDvH yHW WR EH fiOHG Ls Lnvestigators want to monitor how the boy recovers.

“We want to see how the victim is doing,” henny said, noting he knew the boy had been released from the hospital but did not have any further updates on his condition.

henny said charges wRXOG OLNHOy EH fiOHG Ln WKH coming week.