8-year-old seriously injured as van strikes two pedestrians in North Lindenhurst

Two pedestrians, including an 8-year-old girl, were hospitalized Tuesday afternoon after being struck by a van at a busy intersection in North Lindenhurst, cops said.

Patrice Mitchem, 62, of Amityville, was driving a 2010 Chrysler van westbound on Spiegelhagen Street about 2:34 p.m. when she turned left onto Wellwood Avenue and hit the two pedestrians, Suffolk Police said.

Chasity Sandiford, 8, of Lindenhurst suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip. Leanna Duggan, 20, also of Lindenhurst, went to the same hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Mitchem was not hurt. Her van was impounded for a safety check, police said. The accident happened in front of the King Kullen shopping plaza on Wellwood Avenue.

Suffolk Police’s First Squad detectives are investigating and ask anyone with information to call 631.854.8152. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1.800.220.TIPS or at P3Tips.com.

Tipsters could be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

_{Top: The North Lindenhurst intersection where the pedestrians were struck with King Kullen in the background (Google Maps Street View).}