Boy, 11, Struck By Car In North Branch
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Shattered glass and spray paint mark the stretch of Fill Avenue in North Branch, Minn., where an 11-year-old boy was hit by a car.
Neighbor Donna Orme says she felt compelled to drive by to see what the family needs.
"I'm just heart broke over this," Orme said.
All she found was an empty driveway, unattended bikes and the basketball hoop she used to see the brothers play on.
"The youngest one that got hit always would come out and want to chat and talk, and just friendly, super, super nice kid," she said.
According to investigators, the boy and his father were walking northbound on the west side of Fill Avenue near 375th Street just after 8 p.m.
A car also heading north somehow drifted across the center line and into the path of the child, hitting him just 40 feet from his front door.
The boys' father was not hit. The driver of the car did stop and tried to help before police and emergency crews arrived.
The child was taken by ambulance to Fairview Lakes Wyoming Hospital, and then airlifted to the Twin Cities.
The accident has a tight knit community looking for a miracle.
"Just still praying for this little boy that just put his mark on this neighborhood," Orme said.
The 46-year-old female driver of that car did submit to a blood test.
Investigators say they do not believe alcohol played a role in the accident.