A Norwood toddler was gravely injured after being struck by a car last night and was airlifted to a Boston hospital in critical condition, authorities say. The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. when a 3-year-old was hit by a vehicle backing out of a spot on Jefferson Drive. A gray sedan and a tricycle near the scene were later pictured, as reported by Boston 25 News.
The driver of the car, cooperating with investigators, stayed on the scene as the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office joined the ongoing probe into the crash. Flying the child to the hospital was a medical helicopter, due to the severity of the boy's injuries, officials have noted. It remains unclear whether the driver will face any charges, as there was no immediate detail available regarding the cause of the crash.
In a separate account, neighbors in the peaceful streets of Norwood described the harrowing moment a young boy, while playing at a family barbecue, became pinned under the tire of an Audi as it backed out. Graphic testimony from the neighborhood painted a distressing scene, with one child fearing for his life amidst the chaos. "He was screaming and crying because he thought he was going to die," 10-year-old Sophia DeSouza told NBC Boston.
At the scene, filled with playing children earlier that day, police officers and state officials combed the area for evidence. As many children were playing outside when the child was struck down by the car, a neighbor recalled the moment of impact. "My daughters ran into the house screaming, crying that they witnessed a little boy that they were just playing with get run over by a vehicle," Ashley Decosta told 7News Boston (WHDH). The Norwood Police Department has defined the distressing sequence of events as a "terrible accident."
Investigations into the accident by both local and state authorities are currently active, and further information is awaited as families and the Norwood community grapple with the aftermath of what appears to be a tragic misfortune.
