Multiple Guests At Child’s Birthday Party Seriously And Critically Injured In Maryland Auto Collision

A driver plowed into a child’s birthday party in Bladensburg, Md., Saturday night before fleeing on foot, leaving 11 people injured.

The vehicle struck party guests gathered outside a home in the 4100 block of 56th Avenue around 10:14 p.m., according to Bladensburg Police. Seven children between ages 2 and 9 were among those hurt, along with five adults.

Prince George’s County Fire Department transported a young girl and an infant to the hospital in critical condition. Five other children went to Children’s Hospital, while nine victims sustained serious but not life threatening injuries.

Jocelyn Route, a former Prince George’s County school board member who lives nearby,said she  heard the impact from her bedroom. (RELATED: REPORT: Two Teenage Girls Killed In Hit-And-Run Following Claims Of Stalking)

“I was awakened by big booms … There were ambulances all around, there was a car that was actually in the yard, there was screaming,” Route said, WUSA reported. “By the time I got down here, the emergency personnel were trying to resuscitate a woman who was pinned underneath a car.”

Route saw five children who appeared critically injured and three others who could walk to ambulances. Neighbors told her the car had been driving erratically through the area before the crash.

“My neighbor said they tried to make a U-turn but ended up crashing into the tent,” Route said.

Video from the scene showed a torn and partially collapsed party tent in front of the house. Tire marks were visible on the sidewalk.

Police closed Annapolis Road from 57th Avenue to Landover Road while investigating. The driver’s identity and the cause of the collision remained unknown Sunday morning.

“You did harm to members of my community and it’s not OK — turn yourself in,” Route said.