A 13-year-old boy is recovering after he was hit by a car near Memphis International Airport on Thursday, then left in the road as the driver took off. He was taken to a local hospital in non-critical condition, according to witnesses and police.
The crash happened near Millbranch Road and Commonwealth Drive, a route heavily used by airport-bound traffic. A Memphis Police Department spokesperson told LocalMemphis that officers responded Thursday, and the boy was transported for treatment. Police said the suspect vehicle was a black SUV and that the driver left the scene before officers arrived.
"This was the 86th pedestrian-involved crash of 2026," the department told LocalMemphis. Investigators said they are reviewing video and talking with witnesses in an effort to identify the SUV and the driver behind the wheel.
Where It Happened
The collision site at Millbranch and Commonwealth sits along a corridor that funnels traffic to the airport and nearby industrial operations. The stretch carries heavy commuter and commercial flow, which raises the risk for anyone walking or crossing there, especially during busy travel periods.
Pedestrian Safety in Tennessee
Preliminary data from the Governors Highway Safety Association shows drivers struck and killed 7,148 pedestrians in 2024, and the group notes that hit-and-runs and nighttime collisions remain stubbornly common; see GHSA for the full analysis. A 2024 study in Transportation Research Record found that in urban Tennessee, pedestrian-involved crashes have grown more severe over the last decade, increasing the danger people face on busy arterial roads.
Memphis police have asked anyone with information or video of Thursday's hit-and-run to contact investigators. The department has not released any suspect details beyond the description of the black SUV, and the case remains under investigation.
