PEABODY — A tragedy was narrowly averted Friday afternoon when a Lynn woman allegedly struck two children attempting to cross Lynn Street with their mother, leaving them with serious injuries.
Later Friday, police learned one child had been released and the other was about to be released.
“It could have been a horrible tragedy, but fortunately they are all going to be okay,” said Peabody Police Chief Tom Griffin.
Griffin said that police arrested Ovidia Lopez Esteban, 33, of 113 Henry Ave. Apt. #3, at the scene of the crash, and subsequently charged her with driving with a suspended license.
Following additional investigation and communication with the Essex District Attorney’s office, she was charged with reckless operation of a motor vehicle, a passing violation, and a marked lanes violation.
The accident happened at approximately 3 p.m. Peabody police, Peabody fire and the Massachusetts State Police responded. The children, thought to have serious injuries, were taken by ambulance to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Griffin said the mother and children live on a side street off Lynn Street. They had left the house and were walking on Lynn Street when they stopped to cross the street about 15 to 20 yards before the intersection of County Road and Lynn Street. Another driver stopped to allow them to cross.
Lopez Esteban, driving behind the vehicle that had stopped toward the downtown area, was attempting to pass the stopped vehicle on the right when she hit the victims.
Lopez Esteban is expected to be arraigned on Monday, according to Carrie Kimball, a spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office.
