Kin says [Cambodian-American] driver accused of plowing into family 'depressed' November 23, 2009 By John R. Ellement Boston Globe Staff (Mass., USA)

LOWELL -- A bruised and frightened 4-year-old boy sought comfort today in the arms of his grandmother, who held him close 12 hours after an alleged drunk driver plowed into his stroller as he was pushed in a crosswalk.

The boy, Jonathan Dickie Jr., suffered the most serious injuries when his family was hit by the car, but he has been released from the hospital.

“He could have been dead. I am so glad that the Lord was watching over him,’’ said the grandmother, Carol Dickie, as she held him. “I believe someone up there pushed him out of the way and made sure nothing happened to him because he could have been dead.’’

The mother, Nina Wilkin, 25, was crossing Fletcher Street at about 5:30 p.m. on Sunday with Jonathan and his younger sister, Katelyn, 2. Two police officers, who were stopped at a red light, saw a car being driven by Chamroeun Theam plow into the family, authorities said.

The boy was knocked out of his stroller, and his mother and sister were knocked to the ground. All three were rushed to Lowell General Hospital and later released.

With the help of a Cambodian interpreter, Theam pleaded not guilty to operating under the influence, second offense operating while under the influence, and causing serious injury and other charges. Judge Neil J. Walker set bail at $5,000 cash.

With tears in their eyes, two of Theam's daughters and a daughter-in-law watched the court proceeding. Afterward, they spoke with reporters and said Theam has been depressed, but has refused their entreaties to get help.

They said that he grew up in Cambodia, survived the terror years in the 1970s of the Khmer Rouge and remains haunted by that experience and often has nightmares.

"He needs help,'' said Sochann Chea, his daughter-in-law. "He doesn't want it.''

Chea said the driver's extended family is concerned for the health of the mother and her two children. Chea said Theam's family -- he has three sons and two daughters -- does not want to see him behind the wheel again any time soon.

"We don't want anything like this to happen again.'' Chea said. "We feel very bad and we hope the family is okay.''

In a report filed in court, Lowell police officers who witnessed the crash said that Wilkin was in the crosswalk and was hurrying to get across Fletcher Street when the light turned green.

Although the family was still in the intersection, Theam allegedly accelerated and drove his Dodge Neon directly into them without slowing, police said in the report.

Police said the car struck Nina Wilkin, "throwing her into the air over the windshield, hitting the ground on the other side of the street.''

The car struck the double stroller, police said, causing the boy to be "ejected out of the stroller and onto the Neon, bouncing off the Neon and onto the pavement.''

Theam's blood alcohol level was .26, according to the police report. The legal limit is .08. Police said he also failed sobriety tests.

"He appeared to be completely unconcerned about what was going on around him,'' Officer Neils Henry Christiansen wrote of Theam. "He sat in his motor vehicle talking to himself and yelling at no one in in particular.''

Theam was convicted of drunk driving in 1994 in Wisconsin, according to Lowell Police. Details of that case were not immediately avaialble.