A child riding a bicycle to school in Groves, Texas was struck by a hit-and-run driver Thursday morning and left with what authorities describe as minor injuries. The collision happened around 7:42 a.m. at the intersection of Main Avenue and Madison Boulevard, just over a mile from Groves Middle School, as the child was on his way to class.
According to Fox 4 Beaumont, the child was waiting at a stop sign, sitting on his bicycle with his feet on the ground, when he began crossing Main Avenue to get to school. A driver heading south on Main Avenue struck the child, then turned left at the intersection and left the scene without stopping, per the outlet's reporting. Police, fire and EMS all responded to the collision after dispatch received a 911 call from a passerby, who reported that a child had been hit by a white vehicle resembling a Jeep.
Groves City Marshal Christopher Robin confirmed the child was legally positioned at the stop sign before he was struck, according to The Examiner. EMS transported the juvenile to the Medical Center of Southeast Texas in Port Arthur for treatment of minor injuries after the driver turned off Main Avenue and fled, the outlet reported. Marshal Robin also told Fox 4 Beaumont he was still checking on the details of the child's hospital transport as the investigation unfolded Thursday morning.
A Two-Week-Old School Year, A Familiar Morning Commute
The crash landed exactly two weeks after Port Neches-Groves Independent School District students returned to class for the 2026–2027 school year, which officially began August 13, according to district calendar records maintained by Port Neches Primary School. That timing meant morning commute traffic patterns near local schools had only recently resumed after summer break when the collision occurred.
Groves police are asking anyone with information about the driver or the white Jeep-style vehicle to come forward. As reported by KBMT-TV, Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas is offering anonymous tip submissions with potential cash rewards of up to $1,000, reachable through 833-TIPS or the P3Tips mobile app. Groves police can also be reached directly at (409) 962-0244.
What Texas Law Requires — And What Fleeing Could Mean
Under Texas Transportation Code § 550.021, a driver involved in a collision that causes personal injury and fails to stop and render aid faces a fine of up to $5,000 and can be sentenced to up to five years in state prison, or up to one year in county jail for non-serious injuries, according to FindLaw. Texas law requires drivers to immediately stop, determine whether anyone needs aid, and remain at the scene.
Separately, Texas Transportation Code § 550.023 obligates drivers involved in an injury collision to provide their name, address, vehicle registration and insurance information to the injured party or investigating officers, per the Texas Constitution and Statutes. Failing to exchange that information compounds the criminal exposure facing whoever was behind the wheel once identified.
Part of a Broader Pattern on Texas Roads
The Groves case is not an isolated one this week. Police in Garland were also searching for a hit-and-run driver in a separate incident that left a child injured, according to WFAA-TV, which reported that Garland police released video footage in hopes of locating the suspect vehicle. In June, a driver in Temple was criminally charged after distracted driving led to a crash that killed a 16-year-old bicyclist and injured his 10-year-old sister, KCEN-TV reported.
Statewide, bicyclist collisions remain a significant public safety concern. Texas Department of Transportation statistics released in March showed 2,761 crashes involving bicyclists occurred statewide in 2024, with pedalcyclists and pedestrians accounting for more than 20 percent of all traffic fatalities that year, including 852 cyclists and pedestrians killed on Texas roads. The agency also recorded 527 bicyclist-involved crashes in early 2025 alone and has since launched its Drive Like a Texan campaign urging motorists to yield to vulnerable road users.
For now, the identity of the driver who struck the Groves child remains unknown, and it's unclear whether nearby surveillance or automated camera footage exists that could help investigators. Whether the Crime Stoppers tip line generates the lead police need remains an open question as the search continues.
