Police say a woman was on her cellphone when her vehicle allegedly jumped a curb then hit and killed a 4-year-old girl on a Harvey playground last September.
Harvey police recently announced a charge of reckless homicide against Swaleha Vhora, who had three young children in her vehicle before the crash Sept. 8 near Whittier Elementary School. She was released after posting bond.
Police said they responded that afternoon to a playground near Whittier, 71 E. 152nd St., and their investigation showed a vehicle went over a curb, through a fence and then hit a swing set that Violet Singleton was on.
Singleton was a prekindergarten student in Harvey Elementary District 152, Superintendent John Thomas, said at the time of the girl’s death. She did not attend Whittier, according to Thomas.
Witnesses reported and evidence confirmed Vhora was on the phone as the accident occurred, Harvey police said.
With assistance from Illinois State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and wireless carrier T-Mobile, police said they determined Vhora had been using the phone at the time, according to Harvey police.
Police initially took the Vhora into custody, but she was released as the investigation continued.
mnolan@tribpub.com
