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You are here: Home / Fires/Accidents/Disasters / Man accused of hitting girl with vehicle in Des Moines park now in jail (audio)

Man accused of hitting girl with vehicle in Des Moines park now in jail (audio)

June 11, 2010 By Matt Kelley

 

Joel Simpson (mug shot)

Joel Simpson (mug shot)

A man accused of driving a vehicle that hit a girl in a Des Moines park was released from the hospital Thursday and booked in the Polk County Jail. The incident was reported last Sunday in Union Park.

A witness called 911 and said a Jeep Cherokee drove through the park at more than 50 miles per hour before hitting a tree. She thought the vehicle may’ve hit someone. “Oh my God, it’s a girl,” the caller told the dispatcher after stepping closer to the scene. The girl, 14-year-old Melissa Robinson, was critically injured and remains hospitalized after she was hit and dragged by the Jeep for 75 feet.

The driver of the Jeep, 54-year-old Joel Simpson, was released from the hospital Thursday and charged with two counts of driving while barred. More charges could be filed pending laboratory tests.

Simpson has a long history of traffic violations, including drunken driving, but authorities do not believe alcohol was a factor in Sunday’s incident. Simpson was involved in a minor traffic accident in March after suffering a possible seizure.

Listen to the 9-1-1 call in the link below:
Union Park 9-1-1 4:02 MP3

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