Dara Piechowski-Seevers of Brainerd had a scare Monday when she was pushing her 9-month-old daughter in a stroller in the crosswalk at the intersection of North Eighth and Washington streets in Brainerd and a vehicle nearly hit the front of the stroller.
Piechowski-Seevers said her daughter is fine, but she’s upset that a motorist came close to hitting the stroller and drove away so fast, without knowing if the baby inside it was OK.
Brainerd Police Chief Corky McQuiston said Piechowski-Seevers was crossing north on the west side of the intersection when a southbound vehicle on Eighth Street attempted to make a right turn. McQuiston said the vehicle, described as a white truck or van possibly with some brown lettering on the side, has not been located. The driver is described as a white male in his 30s or 40s.
McQuiston said officers found that no contact was made with the stroller and the vehicle involved.
“This incident does serve as a reminder to all drivers to exercise caution at intersections and to pay especially close attention for people in crosswalks,” said McQuiston. “Vehicles are required to yield the right of way to pedestrians entering marked crosswalks like in this incident where it appears that the vehicle was attempting to make a right turn on a red light and the pedestrian had a green.”
The incident was reported at 11:03 a.m.
Anyone with any information on the vehicle is asked to call the Brainerd Police Department at 829-2805.
Comments (23)
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I saw a lady get killed at that intersection years ago by a lumber truck. What pedestrians need to realize is that while making a turn the mirrors on a truck create a blind spot so cross with caution. Pedestrians -make eye contact with the driver so you are sure they see you. And drivers BEWARE of those blind spots. If you cross without looking for traffic just because you "have the right a way" you could be dead wrong. Every day I see idiots stepping off the curb without looking both ways.
Every day I see "idiots"
Every day I see "idiots" turning on red lights without stopping first.
We have more idiot drivers
We have more idiot drivers than idiot walkers. Everyday I drive I shake my head at all the stupid, stupid drivers. Grrrrrr
drivers
With all the "idiot" drivers on the road, that is why you are an "idiot" to step off the curb without looking.
I know Dara and she never
I know Dara and she never crosses without looking. She has gone through a lot and loves her child. She knows the pain of imagining life without her. Dara was not in the wrong, nor did she attempt to cross without thinking or looking for cars. The man was using his cell phone and not paying attention to what he was doing. Please pay close attention and help to locate this driver. Remember, it could have been you or anyone you loved crossing that intersection. And one last thing, the paper can't post this last comment because there is not enough evidence to back it up, but that stroller WAS HIT. I know this because Dara would not lie about it and I have never seen someone so shaken up before. She is a level headed person who can take anything that comes at her but this incident still has her shaken to the core.
Dara and Jenniferls2002
I didn't mean to insinuate that Dara stepped of the curb without looking. Only she knows what she did and I would assume or at least hope that anyone pushing a babystroller would look first. I was trying to make a point about "blind spots" and the importance of making eye countact. That driver should be found and held accountable. I was addressing my comments to all those I've seen who are talking on cellphones or just lost in their own little world who do step off without looking. I see it happen every day. I appoligize to you if I offended you. To those who just want to argue about wether there are more stupid drivers than stupid pedestrians go for it if you have nothing better to do.
Cyclerod48
I didn't assume that you were trying to be rude. I am saddened at the article. It seems to me that it does not focus on the main problem: the driver drove off without stopping to check that the baby was ok! And because the baby was not seriously hurt there is no indication that the stroller was struck. The paper even made it a point to stress that it wasn't struck. How are Dara and the family going to get help in locating the driver with the information not being out out there?
I am also disappointed in our society for questioning what the victim did or could have done differently instead of what the driver did. Is it really ok for people to be allowed the responsibility to drive such a huge machine and put the lives of EVERYONE around them in their hands and then not hold the driver accountable for mistakes that he or she makes? This does not just apply to this one driver, it applies to everyone. If you can not focus your attention on the road then don't drive. And if you make a mistake stop and own up to it.
And yes, I agree that there are some pedestrians that put themselves in a situation that could cause them to be hit. Those pedestrians should be paying more attention and own up to their actions as well. But in the end, it is the driver of the big machine who should be doing everything possible to prevent hitting a pedestrian.
Setting the Record Straight
Thanks for setting the record straight, Jennifer. That child is my baby niece and I have no reason to doubt Dara's account of the incident as upset as she was. The point here is that this guy needs to be caught and held accountable for not paying attention and striking a stroller with a baby in it, and then running away! Hopefully he will come forward and do the right thing.
Although I do agree
And understand how scary and tragic this could have been, the story states no contact was made so they cannot charge the driver with anything and will probably never catch him! I would be angry too!
Driver still needs to be located
The article does not have the full story as to what happened. They can only report the facts that they can prove. Before anything can be confirmed the driver should be spoken to and his truck should be looked at and compaired to the damage on the striller. If the driver did not hit the stroller and feels that he has done nothing wrong then he won't mind turning himself in to the police and being questioned. The public should be watching for this vehicle and submitting a license plate number to the police.
Vehicle Almost Hits Stroller With Baby
Personally I find the officers statement and the Brainerd Daily Dispatches statements strange. The vehicle had to make a slight contact with the stroller to swing the stroller around. This is not a motorized stroller. Dara would not have taken the baby to the doctor to get checked out, if there had been no contact. The proper thing in my opinion for the newspaper to say "according to the mother who was present, the vehicle made contact with the stroller but it did not sustain any damage".It is wrong for both the officer and the newspaper to imply that there was no contact.Perhaps if there was a man present , it would have been taken more seriously.
wow
jeniferls2002 , i can't believe you accused Brainerd Police Chief Corky McQuiston of being a dishonest person. and believe that no one but YOU has the right to an opinion.
Everyone nees to setle down and focus on two real thinks
When I read all this, here, I said to myself, "thank the lord" because even everyone loves a baby. I mean it's a presucious thing and thank god the baby is ok!
But let us thing about two things. One, the driver of that, there, truck was probabaly a democrat. I mean how else to you explain it. The disregrad for human life and the trivial-ness of are existence. What do you expect from the party of Barry "hUSSEIN" obummer? HUSSEIN? HELLO? Rufkm?
The second thi g. Pediatresians need to strongy considered conceal carry. Imagine the confidence you would have stepping into that sidewalk exercising you're second amendment duty to be arm'ed. With a fine semiautomatic pistol. And the driver's if they knew we as pedestrians was carrying, they would thing twice about making an illegal turn lest they be taken by a good clean shot.
This could help pedantestrian safety!
SMTN
Aitkin
Shame on You!
Shame on you, SMTN Aitkin for trying to turn this near tragedy into your own political agenda!!! A baby was nearly killed here by an irresponsible driver that needs to show his face and accept the consequences!! Jennifer, you are right, that the newspaper should have reported that "according to Dara...." if they were so afraid of being sued.
Not accusing
I am not accusing anyone of lying. As I stated earlier, the newspaper is limited on what they can say. The police also fall under this limitation. Everytime an officer makes a public statement it has to be scrutinized to the fullest extent. The police can not just go around accusing people in a public newspaper. It is obvious that more facts need to be gathered, including talking to the driver. I have no objections as to how the investigation is being run.
As for me being so opinionated, I have a right to be and so do you. On December 15, 1791 we were given the right to freedom of speech under the first amendment. While you may not agree with the way that I am going about defending my family there is nothing that you or anyone else can do about it. I have not crossed any lines or been disrespectful to anyone.
And the issue of locating the driver, who I believe struck my cousins stroller, is still out there. Just as the newspaper has done, I am asking that the readers notify the police department if they have any information regarding the driver of the truck. At the very least this driver should be identified and notified of how this has effected Dara and her child. I hope that we can all agree that it is important for drivers to be reminded of how important it is to pay attention while driving.
I'm just saying...
I said and I still says, to myself and to all of y'all, "praise the lord" that the baby is all right!
I'm just saying, if we were all carrying, and drivers knew that, we would all be saifer and no more if this, here! Concealed carry is for pediatestrians as well as drivers too!
SMTN
Vehicle Almost Hits Stoller with Baby In It
I'm not familiar with that location so I am wondering if there were any security cameras in the area that might be helpful??
Well, SMTN.. This was a great article
until you posted... You make me want to punch babies..
And I think your typos just gave me cancer..
So
"I'm just saying, if we were all carrying, and drivers knew that, we would all be saifer and no more if this, here! Concealed carry is for pediatestrians as well as drivers too!"
So if Dara was carrying, she should have pulled it and shot the driver for "allegedly" hitting the stroller?
You SMTN are dangerous thinking that way. Suppose angry drivers should carry so if they get pizzed off at another driver they can take care of it?
God help us. It's people like you ...
Grannyb, that is a good idea, sure would answer any questions, wouldn't it?
Smtn
Is someone who just posts dumb things that are usually ignorant and way off base to look like someone from "the right" pay no attention to him/her
What a hoot !!
I've gotten more entertainment value from the posts to this article than anything else in the BDD this week ! Stroller not hit - baby somehow riding a sit -n-spin; driver has blind spots - needs to be shot; CSI's need to check paint flecks - security cameras to be confiscated !! Doesn't get any better than this folks, who says Brainerd doesn't have great theater !!
The baby has rights too
The second amendment is for all Americans, even babies! I got my babies lifetime NRA membership at 1 month old. It's never too soon to exorcize are 2nd amendent rights!
SMTN
Aitkin
The driver of the vehicle was using a cellphone at the time!
It is not surprising he didn't see the pedestrians in the crosswalk because he was gabbing on his cellphone. We are seeing these incidents far too often.