Woman, Grandchild Hurt After Being Struck By Car Near Modesto School
MODESTO (CBS13) — A woman and her grandchild were left with moderate to major injuries after they were struck by a vehicle in Modesto.
The incident happened Monday morning near West Orangeburg and Martin avenues.
Exactly what led up the crash is unclear, but two pedestrians - a woman and an 8-year-old girl - were struck by a car in a crosswalk. The girl suffered major injuries, police say, while the woman had moderate injuries.
"They did engage the lights when they went to cross the street. As far as what happened, or why the drive struck the pedestrians, I still don't have that information our traffic officers are doing a full in depth investigation," explained Sharon Bear, Modesto PD spokesperson.
Moreganne Nelson works at Red Cross on the corner of the intersection.
"I think because I'm pregnant myself I couldn't imagine walking down the street and getting hit with your kids and the dad came out and was really hysterical
Nelson's co-worker witnessed the moment the 54-year-old grandmother saw the car coming toward them.
"The grandma pushed the boy out of the way and the grandma and the little girl both got hit," she explained.
Nelson said the area is a traffic terror in the neighborhood. In the last five years she has witnessed several accidents on the street, near the intersection that does not have a light.
"I've witnesses at least five or ten myself. People need to slow down, they definitely need to put a light," she said.
A Modesto City Schools official confirmed that the girl hurt is a student at Garrison Elementary School, which is near where the accident happened.
The girl was flown to a children's hospital and is in critical condition, police say.
Neighbors who know the victims' family say they frequently see cars speeding down the street.
"It's something I feel like would happen, a lot of people don't realize this is where we live, this is our home," explained Regina Johnson. "They(drivers) seem to speed a lot, there's been dogs hit, there was a man that was hit recently, there was an accident last week," she explained.
Johnson also believes there should be a stop light implemented at the crosswalk.
"We need something more than flashing lights," she said.
Modesto police say the crosswalk lights were flashing when the two were hit. According, to investigators the walkway has not been targeted as an area of concern.
"Several years ago there was another pedestrian accident, but it hasn't been a problem area for pedestrian intersections," Bear explained.
Officers say the driver involved stayed at the scene and neither drugs nor alcohol appear to have been factors.
East Orangeburg Avenue was closed between the Motel 6 and Grape Avenue through Monday morning as officers investigated.