9-Year-Old Pedestrian Injured in Charlotte, North Carolina Truck Accident Sustains Critical Injuries
A 9-year-old girl who was struck by a pickup truck on Tuesday morning was reportedly in critical condition after the Charlotte, North Carolina pedestrian accident. Police say that the University Park Creative Arts Elementary school student was hit by a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck as she tried to run from the shoulder of the road to the bus stop.
The driver of the truck, James Kuykendall, was driving without a license. Police say that the 38-year-old motorist stepped on the brakes and tried to stop in time, but that the front side of his truck still struck the girl, who was thrown into the air upon impact before landing on the road.
The child pedestrian was taken to Carolinas Medical Center-Main with life-threatening injuries. Kuykendall was arrested for driving while his license was revoked.
Child Pedestrians
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of accidental child injuries and deaths. Young children are especially vulnerable to getting hurt in a Charlotte, North Carolina pedestrian accident when walking. Some kids may be too young to fully comprehend the dangers that can arise when crossing the street. Some may opt to cross outside a crosswalk or may run into the street to chase a ball without realizing that a car is fast approaching. It can also be hard for a young kid to grasp how far away (or close) a car really is from him/her or how fast the auto is actually moving.
That said, motorists must obey traffic signs, follow the speed limit, yield the right of way, and watch out for child pedestrians—especially in schools and residential areas. They must refrain from distracted driving, drunk driving, texting, or talking on the cell phone. They also must exercise caution when driving by or around stopped or parked cars just in case there may be a child pedestrian getting ready to step onto the road.
Pedestrian injuries are often catastrophic or fatal and can be very costly to treat.
Student Hit By Car At Bus Stop, FoxCharlotte, November 16, 2010
Girl, 9, still in critical condition after being hit by truck, WBTV, November 16, 2010
Related Web Resources:
Safe Kids USA
National Strategies for Advancing Child Pedestrian Safety, CDC
