4-year-old and his 17-year-old brother hurt in Sheffield Township hit-and-run crash

SHEFFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio - In a temporary neck brace, 4-year-old Charles Harrington Jr. slept the entire time as NewsChannel5 spoke with his mother in their hospital room. Gina Hollingsworth said her son Charlie is exhausted after a night full of X-rays and CT scans. 

The two boys, 4-year-old Charlie and 17-year-old Matthew Hollingsworth, were both being treated at Rainbow Babies & Children Hospital Thursday morning after police said a hit-and-run driver struck the two in Lorain County just before 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. 

The two have since been released. Hollingsworth said both escaped any broken bones, but Charlie has several stitches in his head. Still, the Sheffield Township mother said she's relieved things were not worse. 

"It's just overwhelming. I was scared, you know, angry because when I found out it was a hit-and-run driver, I'm like, 'Why would anybody just leave two children on the side of the street?’" said Hollingsworth.

Ohio Highway Patrol told NewsChannel5 a light colored sedan traveling northbound on Clifton Avenue in Sheffield Township, struck the two from behind. Matthew said he was carrying his younger brother on his shoulders at the time and they were on their way home from a walk. 

Once knocked to the ground, Matthew said he yelled for the driver to stop, but instead saw the vehicle speed off and make a turn. 

Hollingsworth said a Good Samaritan saw the boys lying on the ground and helped them home, where police and EMS were waiting. Police said the two were rushed to Lorain Mercy Hospital and then flown to Rainbow Babies & Children Hospital.

According to Ohio Highway Patrol, one neighbor did hear the accident, but called police for two people shot. 

"She thought it was a gunshot so, must've been loud enough for them to think it was a gunshot when someone hit them," said John Knisley referring to the neighbor who called police.

Hollingsworth said she's relieved her sons will be OK. As for the hit-and-run driver, she said, "I'm just hoping out of some decency, they're going to turn themselves in or someone's going to find out something."

Anyone with information can contact Lorain County's Ohio Highway Patrol.