A Staten Island pediatrician has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident after her ran over a man and his 6-year-old daughter, who was riding on her father’s shoulders, earlier this month.
Guy Seth, 51, suffered a concussion and his daughter, Zoey, had a fractured skull, requiring surgery, The New York Post reported.
Sam Leuzzi, 66, struck the pair late in the afternoon on January 9, as father and daughter were walking the family dog, who was not hit. He was arrested the following day and charged with leaving the scene of an accident without reporting it, violating right-of-way, and failure to use due care laws, according to a criminal complaint. He has pleaded not guilty.
“I just could not believe he would just leave the scene,” Zoey’s mom, Gosia Seth, told The Post.
“When you think of a pediatrician you think ‘trust.’ Accidents can happen. But you don’t stay and help if you have that medical knowledge? I still can’t process this. I can’t believe this,” she said.
According to the criminal complaint, Leuzzi told investigators he did stop to help, but he didn’t tell anyone he was the one who hit Seth and his daughter.
“I did not tell anyone I was the driver, I did not give my information because nobody asked me,” he said. “I left. I felt terrible what had happened and I was going to go to the police precinct in the morning.”
According to his attorney, Joseph Corozzo, Leuzzi “remained on the scene tending to both parties and waited for the ambulance to take the father and daughter to the hospital. The NYPD and the District Attorney’s Office have provided evidence that proves this was an accident occurring during a terrible violent storm. The evidence further establishes that Dr. Leuzzi remained at the scene and communicated with officers.”
The Seths and their attorney, Ravi Batra, say it’s inconceivable that Leuzzi didn’t call 911.
“The calculating evil in him took over in a Jekyll and Hyde way, and then he walked away without telling the police he’s the guy who did it,” Batra said. “He put their lives at risk.”
“My daughter thought her daddy was dead,” Zoey’s mother said.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Featured image: The Seths/GoFundMe]
