Police: Driver who hit juvenile not impaired

The driver of the car that struck a 12-year-old Royersford boy Sunday afternoon "appeared to be in a normal state of mind," according to the accident report narrative.

The report filed by Royersford Patrolman Mark Smythe said that Ashley Nichole Shifflet, 24, of Roxborough Avenue in Philadelphia, was the driver of the 2005 Ford Focus that struck Thomas Dalnodar, 12, of Spring Street in Royersford at about 2:45pm on Sunday afternoon.

Thomas, who was riding his bicycle, suffered what Smythe called "several injuries which included possible fractures to his left arm and leg, severe bleeding, an open wound to his left leg, and possible head trauma."

Shifflet told police that she was traveling eastbound on Walnut Street when she saw a boy on a "motor bike" and "a couple" of children on bicycles riding alongside the passenger side of her vehicle.

According to Shifflet, she stopped her vehicle to allow the boy on the motor bike to pass. When she continued forward, she saw the boy later identified as Thomas hit the front passenger side of her car. Thomas was thrown onto the hood of Shifflet's car, then fell back onto the street.

Shifflet told police she then got out of the car, saw Thomas lying on the ground, and called 911.

Smythe "observed [Shifflet's] condition to be normal." Shifflet told Smythe she had not consumed any alcohol and was not on any medication.

Thomas was taken via medical helicopter to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Through a hospital representative, the family declined to provide an update on his condition on Tuesday afternoon.

Royersford police chief Kevin Schurr said via e-mail on Wednesday morning that no charges would be filed against Shifflet.