A late-afternoon bike ride near Watson Park turned tragic Friday in Braintree, where a young boy was struck by an SUV and left in critical condition. The crash happened at the intersection of Arthur Street and Gordon Road, and both neighbors and officers rushed in to help before medics brought the child to a nearby hospital. Police say the neighborhood is badly shaken as the investigation continues.
Police Describe Harrowing Scene
In a press release on Facebook, the Braintree Police Department said officers responded to a 911 call around 4:45 p.m. Friday. They arrived to find a young boy unconscious in the roadway with serious head and upper-body injuries.
Police said officers immediately began emergency care as they waited for backup from the Braintree Fire Department and Brewster Ambulance. The department publicly thanked those crews, along with community members who stepped in to help while medical resources were on the way.
Neighbors And Bystanders Race To Help
According to NBC Boston, several bystanders joined officers in giving the child emergency aid until additional medical personnel arrived and took him to a nearby hospital. Witnesses described a frantic few minutes as people ran from nearby homes and yards toward the intersection.
Neighbors told reporters the area quickly turned into a crime scene, with police shutting down the intersection so investigators could document the crash.
Watson Park Traffic Has Parents On Edge
Residents told Boston 25 that Watson Park draws large numbers of kids once the weather warms up, and that the busy streets around the park have long worried parents.
"His shoes were there, his bike was there," one neighbor recalled, describing the aftermath of the crash as first responders worked on the boy in the street.
Investigation Continues, Police Urge Safety
WHDH reports that a preliminary inquiry indicates the boy was riding along Arthur Street toward Watson Park when he entered the intersection and came into contact with an SUV. No identifying information about the child or the driver had been released as of the latest updates, and officials have not indicated whether any charges are being considered.
In its Facebook statement, the Braintree Police Department also used the incident to remind families that children should wear properly fitted helmets and other protective gear when riding.
The boy remains in critical condition, and the case is under active investigation, according to NBC Boston.
