Full Notification

On Tuesday morning, a 10-year old boy was struck by a SUV while crossing in a crosswalk on his way to school.  The boy, who suffered major injuries, remains hospitalized at Children’s Hospital in Oakland.

 

At 7:50 am, the boy, who police will only identify as a 3rd grade student at Washington Elementary School was riding his bicycle to school for the first time.  He was wearing his helmet as he walked his bike across Dutton Ave. at Arbor Dr. in a marked crosswalk, just a few blocks from school, when he was struck by a Chevy Tahoe driving on Dutton Ave. towards Bancroft Ave. at an estimated 25-30 mph.  

 

As witnesses stopped to tend to the boy, they discovered him unresponsive. They called 9-1-1 for help.  The first officers on scene found people helping the boy, who shortly thereafter, regained consciousness and began to scream.  Officers assisted paramedics in tending to the boy, who was transported by ambulance to Children’s Hospital in Oakland.

 

Once police learned of the boy’s identity from school administrators, they drove to his residence to inform his mother about the accident.  However, before they arrived, the boy’s mother arrived at the scene.  Officer Tom Rogers, one of SLPD’s School Resource Officers drove the mother to the hospital, so that she could be with her son.

 

The boy, who sustained several broken bones, including multiple fractures in his leg and ribs, also suffered a broken arm, broken collar bone and minor head trauma.  His bicycle helmet saved him from severe head trauma.  

“We cannot stress enough the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet – and in this case, it proved to work as designed,” stated Lt. Robert McManus.  “We are relieved that doctors have reported that the boy will make a full recovery from this tragic accident,” he said.

 

The driver of the Chevy is not yet being identified, as the investigation into the cause of the accident is continuing.  He is described as a man in his 40s, who was driving the Chevy by himself, without a valid driver’s license.  Preliminarily, traffic investigators have concluded that the driver of the Chevy is at fault for the accident and that the boy in the crosswalk did everything right.  After completing their investigation, police will determine whether or not criminal charges will be sought.

 

Sergeant Troy Young, was one of the officers who assisted the paramedics in tending to the boy.  He knew that the boy’s clothes had been cut off so that paramedics could provide proper medical care to the boy, so Sergeant Young, on his own, bought the boy a new outfit, and delivered it to him at Children’s Hospital last night.  

 

One of the boy’s family members has since commended Sergeant Young and the other officers that were involved in yesterday’s tragic accident and wrote the following comments about them (the boy’s identity has been deleted from the following to protect his identity):

 

My nephew was hit by a car on his way to school yesterday 9/8/2015...apparently your Sgt Young, after hearing my nephew upset that his new clothes grandma got him had to be cut off, left the hospital and bought him an entire new outfit to replace the ruined one...I cannot tell you the depth of gratitude our family feels about this...it truly was above and beyond the call of duty...at a time when it seems you only hear about police brutality, it is heart-warming to know that there are good people such as Sgt. Young who obviously care...so I wish to say thank you Sgt Young for your generous spirit. My sister also mentioned Ofc. Albert, Ofc. Rogers and Ofc. Mendenhall and said all of the above were outstanding and helped make a parent’s worst nightmare survivable...Thank you all for your care of both my nephew and my sister.

 

MEDIA UPDATES WILL BE MADE AS INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE

 

Please contact the San Leandro Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division with any information regarding this case or any other case at (510) 577-3230. 

 

Information may also be submitted anonymously by:

 

• Phone: Anonymous Crime Tips at (510) 577-3278

• Text Message:   Text “TipSLPolice” to 888777

 

For crime prevention tips please go to the Police Department’s website at http://www.sanleandro.org/depts/pd or contact our Crime Prevention Unit at 510-577-3228.

 

Citizens play a critical role in creating a safe environment by observing and reporting any suspicious and criminal activity to the Police.  The San Leandro Police Department recommends that citizens do not participate in any direct verbal or physical involvement with suspicious persons or those who are committing crimes. The personal safety of the community is paramount. We encourage the San Leandro community to record the details of what they observe and to report those details to the Police.  This type of community involvement and partnership has proven to be a very effective crime prevention tool. Citizens act as the eyes and ears of the community first, and the extended eyes and ears of the San Leandro Police Department. Thank you for being a force multiplier in our efforts to provide professional police services and safety to the community.

 

PRESS RELEASE INFORMATION:

 

DATE / TIME OF RELEASE: 09/09/15 – 4:50pm

 

INCIDENTS:  Police Help Boy Struck By Bike Riding to School

 

PRESS RELEASE OFFICER:  Lt. Robert McManus

 

TELEPHONE: (510) 577-3232

 

EMAIL: [email protected]

 

DATE / TIME OF INCIDENT: 09/08/15 – 7:50am

 

ARREST LOCATION(S): N/A

 

INVESTIGATING DETECTIVE(S):  SLPD Traffic Division

 

SUSPECT(S): Confidential