Boy Struck By Car Still Unconscious

by Judy Silberstein

(June 8, 2008) A 9-year-old Larchmont Manor boy struck by a car on Friday, June 6 was still unconscious on Sunday, June 8 and was breathing with support of a ventilator. (See: 9-Year-Old Manor Boy Hit; Teen Driver Charged With DWI.) William Powers underwent surgery on Saturday on both legs; he has a severed femur in his left leg and a fractured tibia and puncture wounds in his right leg. In addition, he has several brain edemas (swelling), severely bruised lungs and other injuries.

This was the report conveyed on behalf of the Powers family by Karen Schwartzman, formerly of New Rochelle and now living in Boston. She said William’s parents and four siblings, including his twin brother, had been at his bedside since Friday. His mother has been able to sleep in his room at the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla.

“They want to focus their attention on their boy and not on the media,” said Ms. Schwartzman. “They just want him to get well.”

“The family is extremely grateful for the outpouring of support that they have gotten,” said Ms. Schwartzman, who mentioned a flood of phone calls and emails and a visit from Monsignor Thomas Kelly of St. Augustine Church.

William was injured after accompanying his older sister to pick up a Bee-Line bus at Magnolia and Grove Avenue on Friday morning. The Larchmont police report that William stepped out in front of the stopped bus and was hit by a 1995 Lexus 4-door driven by an 18 year-old male from the same neighborhood.

Based on field sobriety tests, the driver was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and released on $500 bail. Police also obtained a court order for a blood test, which was administered at around noon.

Police have declined to release the name of the driver because of his age. At the discretion of a judge, 18-year-olds are eligible for youthful offender status in which their records would be closed to the public. According to Police Chief Steve Rubeo, Larchmont has a long-standing policy of not releasing names of individuals eligible for youthful offender status. Arraignments of such individuals are also closed to the public, he said.

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