A child riding a bicycle was struck by a vehicle Thursday on South First Avenue in Iowa City, with police later charging the driver after she admitted to fleeing the scene.
A child on a bicycle was struck by a motor vehicle Thursday afternoon at South First Avenue and Mall Drive, Iowa City Police Department Public Information Officer Lee Hermiston said in an email statement to The Daily Iowan.
Police responded to the scene at 3:08 p.m. and learned the driver had not stopped after hitting the child. The child was found not to have been seriously injured in the accident and did not require hospitalization, Hermiston said.
Witnesses at the scene helped identify the vehicle of suspected driver 37-year-old Diane Ngaluba, and after conducting an investigation, officers located her at her home. Ngaluba admitted to hitting the child and driving away, Hermiston said.
According to court documents, Ngaluba was charged with leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, a serious misdemeanor, and violating the terms of her driver’s license.
Ngaluba is awaiting a first appearance notice and has been released from police custody without bond, on the promise to appear for a set arraignment date.
In Iowa, a serious misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of no more than $2,560, with the court able to impose jail time not exceeding one year.
No arraignment date has been set at the time of publication.
~~~
Crash Date: Nov 20th 2025