MEDINA, Ohio — Shyrene Michelle Vargas, the woman accused of striking an elementary school student with her car in a downtown Medina intersection in March, changed her plea to no contest during a court appearance on Monday.
Vargas pleaded no contest to charges of driving without a valid license and disobeying a traffic control device. Two charges of driving while under suspension were dismissed. Vargas was fined $200 and two points will be added to her driver's license.
Police say the incident on March 19 happened at the intersection of East Liberty and North Court streets in downtown Medina's Public Square.
Surveillance footage showed a driver slam into the child when he had the right of way on the crosswalk. The child is seen tossed into the air and thrown onto the ground. Fortunately, he suffered only cuts and bruises.
"This video reiterates how important it is for drivers to pay attention while turning at intersections in the square," Medina police stated on Facebook while releasing the surveillance video. "The area is congested with vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Please pay full attention while turning at all intersections. Thank you to all the bystanders who came to the child's aid."
After the incident, 3News' Matt Rascon spoke to the child's parents.
“The first time I saw it I almost lost it. It’s very, very emotional seeing your kid go flying through the air,” said John McKay, the boy's father. “She (the driver) shouldn’t have even been on the road to begin with."
Meanwhile, the child's parents have started a petition to get a crossing guard at the intersection to help their sons and other students get to and from school safely.
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