Father Of Girls Injured In Salem Hit & Run Wants Justice
BOSTON (CBS) -- Richard Goulette was in Connecticut when he received a phone call Sunday that his 10-year-old twin daughters and their mom were struck by a hit and run driver while out trick-or-treating in Salem.
"Being able to be there and being able to see her as opposed to hearing what was going on over the phone, was a great comfort because even if it got worse, I knew that I was right there beside her holding her hand."
Goulette spoke exclusively with WBZ-TV about the events following and leading up to the crash.
"When they got out into the crosswalk and they saw headlights and Rowen says that she remembers it and then she realized they were slowing down," described Goulette.
One of the twins, Evelyn, suffered minor injuries. She and her mother were taken to Salem Hospital. The other twin named Rowen suffered most of the injuries. She was rushed to Mass General Hospital in Boston. Rowen broke her clavicle, ribs, ankle, and femur.
The North Attleboro native is no stranger to hospitals. She beat eye cancer when she was a baby.
"We almost lost her then and I thought that was the scariest thing in the world that I'd gone through and I prayed that I'd never go through anything like that again and I'd have to rethink that after this because the chance of losing both of them and their mother is the scariest thing I've ever endured," Goullette said.
The driver, 52-year-old Dexter Mitchell of Beverly, was arraigned on Monday. Mitchell pleaded not guilty to an OUI charge. Prosecutors asked for $10,000 bail. The judge set his bail at $2,500.
Goulette wants justice.
"He left. He struck two little girls and their mother with a car and then left and then ditched evidence of what he did and showed up on the scene, to stand up in the back and watch on foot and that's probably the worst thing for me," Goullette said.
Mitchell is a para professional who works with special needs students. He has no record. Goulette hopes to be able to bring his daughter home next week.
A GoFundMe page has been setup to help the family with medical bills.