Mother is hoping for son’s recovery

The pickup driver who hit the boy failed to show for a pretrial hearing, and a warrant was issued.

By PATRICIA MEADE

VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER

YOUNGSTOWN — Latawon Townsend’s mother no longer asks doctors what the future holds for the little boy whose sweet smile is just a memory.

“I quit asking the prognosis. I just put my faith in God,” Miranda Scott said, absentmindedly rubbing a photo badge of her son. “Whatever it is, it’s better than having to bury my baby.”

Latawon, who turns 6 on Sept. 30, was struck by a Ford F-150 pickup when he darted across Cooper Street around 10:15 p.m. May 25. He and his three brothers (ages 9, 8 and 2) were at a family friend’s house on Cooper for a sleepover with two children who live there.

The driver, Keith Freet, 39, of South Avenue, was charged with driving under suspension. After a police review of the accident, the city prosecutor filed no charges that would indicate Freet was at fault. The accident investigator estimated Freet’s speed at about 32 mph.

Freet appeared in municipal court for arraignment but failed to show for a pretrial hearing in July, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Scott understands how kids dart across streets but said Latawon should never have been outside that late at night, let alone outside unsupervised. Of the six children at the Cooper Street house that night, only Latawon was outside, she said.

Police who investigated the accident learned that Latawon was outside playing tag with a 12-year-old neighborhood boy. They had crossed the street and were heading back when Latawon was struck by the pickup.

Scott, a 29-year-old single mom, said Latawon’s head hit the curb, causing a brain injury. A helicopter took him to Children’s Hospital at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

A portion of the left side of his brain was removed and surgery will reattach the section of skull that had to be cut out, Scott said, sitting in the kitchen of her mother’s West Chalmers Avenue house. The surgery is scheduled for Sept. 28, two days before his birthday, in Pittsburgh.

Latawon is now in Cleveland Clinic for rehabilitation. To keep him stimulated in his hospital bed, his family hung streamers with his name and butterflies. His bed is crammed with stuffed animals, including an orange-striped toy cat that resembles his real cat, Oliver.

Music plays to encourage a response from the injured boy, whose mom said used to smile a lot. “He doesn’t smile now,” she said.

For Latawon’s birthday, gifts will include the soundtrack from Shrek, camouflage sheets (he loves Army stuff) and toys that twirl.

Because he’s fed through tubes — except for tiny portions of applesauce during physical therapy — the little boy’s gifts will also include flavored lip gloss so he remembers how things taste, his mom said.

Scott, who did medical billing for a business in Liberty, said she lost her job because she missed so much work and understands why she was let go. She stays with Latawon weekdays and her mother stays with him on weekends.

“I have a house on Glenaven [Avenue] and I’m still paying the bills there but I don’t stay there. I don’t want to go home until he comes home,” Scott said. “I’ve been staying here with my mom. I don’t want to be alone.”

Scott’s other boys are with her at her mother’s.

Medical fund

Some of Latawon’s medical bills are being paid through the Mahoning County Department of Human Services, Scott said. Donations can be made to a fund established at National City Bank on Market Street. The boy’s account is Miranda Scott for Latawon Townsend.

Scott said she takes medication for depression and it helps her control her anger over what happened. She doesn’t believe justice was done, saying more charges should have been filed.

Darla Scott, Latawon’s 52-year-old grandmother, has his new bike on her enclosed front West Chalmers Avenue porch. The bike sits next to three others no longer ridden by his two older brothers and cousin.

Since Latawon’s injury in May, his mother and grandmother fear for the safety of the other children riding their bikes on streets or sidewalks.

Darla Scott said a lot of people thought Latawon died from his brain injury. Thinking back, she smiled and called him her “little helper,” the one who would always volunteer to vacuum and help in the garden.

“He was supposed to go to kindergarten this year,” Miranda Scott said, her eyes filled with tears. “He was so excited.”