Driver on drugs when children hit, police say

ATLANTA — Three boys remain in critical condition after they were hit by a car Friday night.

Neighbors say the children were riding their bikes on Mayson Turner Road near Joseph E. Boone Boulevard in northwest Atlanta when Ryan Lisabeth, 28, crossed over the centerline, according to police.

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Police said Lisabeth hit the three children, causing them to be thrown in multiple directions. The vehicle continued and hit a second vehicle before becoming disabled and coming to an uncontrolled stop.

The three children were transported to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Egleston.

According to police, Lisabeth was transported to Grady Detention due to his drug use and the motor vehicle collision.

He was taken into custody for DUI drugs, serious injury, reckless driving, driving on the wrong side of the road and possession of a controlled substance. %

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Neighbor Stephanie Nero told Channel 2’s Rikki Klaus that she heard from her kitchen what sounded like a freight train around 7 p.m.

"And when I ran out the door, I saw the 11-year-old up in the air, rolling down my hill," Nero said.

She said a boy flew over a 6-foot fence. Atlanta police said a car hit the child and two other kids walking along the sidewalk.

"Somehow or another like I said (he) lost control, struck another vehicle, a truck that was a few feet back, and at that point, he lost control and struck the three children," said Atlanta police spokesman Donald Hannah.

Nero said she ran to the child, noticed it was her friend's son and held him until the ambulance got there.

"He kept calling my name. ‘I'm hurting. I'm hurting.’ I'm like, ‘Just be still baby. Just be still. I got you. I'm not going to leave you.’ And he just started crying and the ambulance came and I had one of my friends get his parents," Nero told Klaus.

Police say all three were in critical condition. Nero said she babysits two of them, including an 8-year-old boy.

"He's never got in trouble. He just … he's always helping. Just wants to knock on your door. ‘Can I take your trash out, ma'am?’ He's very, very sweet," Nero told Klaus.

"My heart's breaking right now. I'm just in pieces. But as a community, we're going to pull together and take care of everybody," Nero said.

Nero said the boys were walking to get candy at a nearby store.

Cox Media Group