MANCHESTER, N.H. (WHDH) - A man accused of hitting two kids with a car in Manchester, N.H., while under the influence, appeared virtually in court Friday.
Justin LaClair, 23, of Manchester, was arraigned on charges of aggravated driving while intoxicated, two counts of reckless conduct, and two counts of conduct after an accident.
“No plea” was entered for each charge. LaClair will be held until a probably cause hearing later this month.
Prosecutors say LaClair told them he doesn’t remember striking anyone while driving Thursday. Investigators say LaClair admitted he was drunk at the time of the crash.
“He stated, and I quote, ‘I was drunk, I was not thinking about getting into an accident. It was not a smart idea,'” said prosecutor Carl Olson.
At around 4 p.m. Thursday, police said they responded to Lake Avenue and Belmont Street, where two children were hit by a vehicle.
“I thought he was going to hit me so I started running, and I was screaming and running, like at the top of my lungs,” said witness Laverna Sinclair.
Prosecutors say both an 11-year-old and an infant suffered life-threatening injuries.
“I saw the little girl get hit, in the air, on the ground. And in that moment, I’m like, ‘Oh my God, is she alive?’ So I ran over there, meanwhile calling 911 and just assessing the situation to see if she was breathing,” said registered nurse Cassie Sinclair.
Police say LaClair crashed into another car several blocks later before he was taken into custody.
It was revealed in court that the infant has suffered multiple cardiac arrests since the crash. Both of the children remain in serious condition.