Neighbors react to New Years Eve crash involving child

HIDALGO COUNTY, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A boy struck by a car on New Year's Eve remains hospitalized.

According to police, the child is about four to five years old.

The Texas Department of Public Safety identified the driver as Lizbeth Samantha De La Cruz.

De La Cruz struck the young boy on Tuesday night near the 700 block of South Abrams Road near Palmview. She has since been charged with driving while intoxicated with a child and possession of an illegal substance.

However, she has not been charged with striking the boy.

A witness was visiting friends nearby when she noticed the boy’s mother in the street screaming that he was still alive.

Liz Garnett lives in the area and says the lack of lights makes the streets dangerous.

“As I’m standing there I am just looking around and everything you see is pitch black," Garnett said. "You can’t see anything. All you could see were the sirens but you can’t see anything past the sirens.”

Arnold Salazar, Safety Chief for the Hidalgo County Precinct 3 Commissioner’s office, says residents in colonias have to sign a petition in order to have lights installed in their neighborhoods. Once they collect at least 75% of the signatures, then the process can begin.

Garnett believes officials should do more to help areas in need of more infrastructure.

“Drive around your area. Get a notepad if you have to and don’t rely on your residents to pick up the phone and call and file a complaint," Garnett said.

A DPS spokeswoman says the boy is in stable condition.