‘Wild animals riding around’: Boy, 10, severely injured in ATV hit-and-run

A 10-year-old boy suffered severe injuries in a hit-and-run with an ATV over the weekend and remained in the hospital Tuesday.

Jahari Alford was riding his bike when he was struck at the intersection of 14th and Chapin streets in Northwest D.C. Saturday night, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.

He and a friend had just left a birthday party and decided to enjoy the warm weather and ride their bikes when an ATV hit both boys. The driver fled the scene.

“My grandson was bleeding in the middle of the street, and these guys did stop for a minute to just look at him as if he was a piece of trash that you just ride over and not say anything and kept it moving,” said Karyn Alford, Jahari’s grandmother. “And didn’t even stop to see if he was OK or anything.”

Jahari’s mother, Briyonna Alford, finds it hard to believe someone would hit a child and have no remorse.

“I feel devastated; I’m hurt; I’m heartbroken,” she said. “The same city that I grew up in, it’s not safe for raising children.”

According to the family, Jahari’s injuries include bleeding in the brain and a spinal injury.

“They need to find the persons, these wild animals that were riding around,” Karyn Alford said. “They need to be held accountable, because my grandson has a long road of recovery.”

It’s unknown if he’ll need more surgeries. Meanwhile, the family’s raising funds for his medical bills.

Jahari’s friend was treated for injuries at the scene.

The hit-and-run driver was on a white and green ATV, according to police.

It is illegal to ride ATVs and dirt bikes on public streets in D.C., and officers are not allowed to chase them.

“I want justice for my son,” Briyonna Alford said. “I need someone to take accountability.”

“You need to tell my daughter some answers,” Karyn Alford said. “What are you going to do? What is the chief of police going to do? What’s going to happen?”

“While MPD is prohibited from pursuing ATVs pursuant to District law, they continue to work with prosecutors to hold reckless drivers accountable when they violate our laws,” the mayor’s office said in a statement.

DC Police encourages anyone with information about the hit-and-run to contact them at (202) 727-9099.