UPDATE: Child struck by car in South Bend in critical condition at Indianapolis hospital
Howard Dukes
SOUTH BEND — The 4-year-old girl who was struck by a car Friday afternoon in the 700 block of Cottage Grove Avenue was transferred to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis on Friday night, a nursing supervisor at Memorial Hospital said Saturday morning.
Saturday afternoon, a spokeswoman at Riley said the little girl remained in critical condition.
South Bend police Lt. Eugene Eyster said the child ran from a home on the east side of Cottage Grove and crossed the street behind a van and continued into the street into the path of another vehicle around 5 p.m. Friday. That vehicle was believed to have been trying to stop when the accident occurred.
Per standard operating procedure, the driver of the vehicle, a 60-year-old man, was taken for drug and alcohol testing, however, Eyster said there was no indication of impairment. He added speed also does not appear to be a factor.
Andre Stoner, a resident on the block where the accident occurred, said there was a pot luck supper taking place in the neighborhood at the time of the crash. And with the nice weather, the neighborhood was abuzz with activity.
The county Fatal Crash Team investigators were called to investigate the accident.
Eyster said the warm weather brought out many children Friday, and he urged motorists to keep within speed limits and watch for children playing outdoors.
"This is the time of the year where we have to adjust and be more aware of what's going on," Eyster said.