89-Year-Old Milwaukee Woman Charged in Hit-and-Run After Child Struck in Cudahy

89-Year-Old Milwaukee Woman Charged in Hit-and-Run After Child Struck in Cudahy

Cudahy, Wisconsin — A troubling incident has brought renewed focus on school-zone safety, driver responsibility, and the potential dangers of hit-and-run behavior after a child was struck by a vehicle and the driver fled the scene. The driver, an 89-year-old Milwaukee woman named Darlene Adam, has been formally charged with felony hit-and-run causing injury following the October crash involving a 10-year-old girl. 

The Incident

On October 28, the victim—a 10-year-old girl identified in reports as Lenci Lambert (though some sources list year as 9) —was walking near the intersection of East Ramsey Avenue and South Swift Avenue in Cudahy, near J.E. Jones Elementary School, when a silver sedan struck her while she was in the crosswalk. 

According to the crossing guard on duty at the time, the girl was halfway across the street when the sedan approached without slowing down, struck her on the passenger side, and then drove away from the scene. 

Investigative Findings

Following the collision, police obtained surveillance footage from nearby locations. That footage captured a silver sedan with fresh damage at the front passenger side, a cracked windshield, and what investigators described as a “handprint” on the glass. The vehicle was tracked to the parking lot of Aurora St. Luke’s South Shore Hospital, just two blocks from the crash site. 

When interviewed by police, Darlene Adam reportedly claimed she thought she had struck either a rock or a construction barrel, and said she did not check her vehicle for damage until arriving at the hospital. She also said she did not recall seeing a crossing guard. Investigators say those statements conflict with the guard’s account. 

Legal Action & Potential Consequences

Adam is charged with one count of hit-and-run causing injury. If convicted, she faces up to nine months in jail and fines up to $10,000, according to court filings. 

Her initial court appearance is scheduled for December 18, per records. 

The Child Victim & Aftermath

The young girl suffered a concussion, abrasions and bruising in the crash. While some reports identify her as age 9 at the time of the incident, others list her as 10. 

Friends and family of the girl say she returned to school several days later, but now harbors fear of crossing streets at crosswalks. 

Broader Issues Raised

This incident highlights multiple safety and policy challenges:

• Senior driver safety: At 89 years old, the driver’s capacity to react, perceive hazards, and drive safely is under scrutiny. Experts say age alone doesn’t determine driving ability—but regular assessment of vision, reaction time, and judgment becomes increasingly important.  
• School-zone vigilance: The crash occurred near an elementary school, during a time when students were walking. Ensuring that both drivers and pedestrians (especially children) are alert in school zones is critical.
• Hit-and-run consequences: The decision to flee after hitting a pedestrian significantly heightens the legal risk and moral responsibility. The incident is a chilling reminder of the severity of leaving a crash scene.
• Design & crosswalk enforcement: The crossing guard’s presence indicates a controlled pedestrian zone, yet the driver allegedly failed to yield. It raises questions about traffic calming, enforcement, and driver awareness in such zones.

What’s Next

Investigation continues as the court process unfolds. Police and school officials may review safety protocols around the intersection. Families and local residents are watching closely, with some calls being made for increased caution and perhaps additional safety measures in school-adjacent zones.

Final Thoughts

This case is a painful convergence of vulnerability and responsibility: a young child walking to school, a driver accused of striking her and failing to stop, and the legal and moral implications that follow. It underscores that safety on our roads depends not only on infrastructure and policy—but on every driver’s mindful behavior, especially in school zones and around children.

As the legal system proceeds, the hope is that justice will be served, the child will recover fully and regain confidence, and that the community will take this incident as a serious call to action.