Two young girls in serious condition after being hit by SUV in Peabody

PEABODY – Two young girls are in serious condition after they were hit while crossing the street in Peabody. Their mother was also struck.

Tess, 8, and Piper, 5, were crossing Lynn Street in their neighborhood on the way to the dry cleaners with their mother Friday afternoon. All three were struck by the car. Both children were taken to Massachusetts General Hospital, where Piper was clearned. Tess stayed in the hospital for observation and may have a broken leg.

“I was actually a little nervous to come down. You never know what you’re going to see. You can’t unsee what you’re going to see, right? So I was actually kind of relieved when you came down and saw the second girl moving and talking, and the first girl at least I heard her say, once she was starting to regain consciousness, and she was bleeding from the news a little bit,” said witness Peter Zorzonello, who called 911.

In fact, the mother, Laura, is an emergency room nurse. She said her medical instincts kicked in when the crash happened, so she was able to stay calm.

The family’s neighbors are wishing them the best.

“They are the best girls. They are wicked sweet. They are little kids. They play with sidewalk chalk all the time, and they are just the sweetest little kids, and I pray for them and their family. I hope they’re all right,” said one neighbor.

The driver of the vehicle, Ovidia Lopez-Esteban of Lynn, was arrested and will be charged with operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.