A Saturday morning go-kart ride in Tempe ended with a hospital trip for a 7-year-old after an SUV hit the child in a crosswalk, according to police. The collision happened just after 7 a.m. at Alameda Drive and College Avenue, where officers say the child was riding a go-kart through a crosswalk alongside a parent when a driver turned right and struck them. First responders took the child to a nearby hospital as a precaution, and officers partially closed the intersection while they investigated. Authorities have not released the child's name or condition.
What happened, according to police and local reporting
According to Arizona's Family, Tempe police were working the scene near Mill and Southern avenues, interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence. The outlet reports that police said the child was in a marked crosswalk when the driver turned and hit them, and that the intersection stayed partially shut down during the investigation. Details from police remained limited, and no arrests or citations had been announced at the time of the report.
Nearby crashes have heightened safety concerns
The crash comes on the heels of other recent incidents along the College Avenue corridor and nearby streets. ABC15 reported that earlier this week two children were struck near Mill and Southern and taken to Cardon Children's Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Those collisions have neighbors again calling for stronger protections for people walking, biking and rolling in the area.
Investigators ask witnesses to come forward
Tempe police are asking anyone who saw Saturday's crash, or who may have relevant video, to contact the department, according to Arizona's Family. Investigators had not announced any specific safety changes tied to this crash and were still working to determine what led up to the collision. This story will be updated if police release more information about the child's condition or any potential charges.
