A 12-year-old boy was seriously injured Saturday night when he was hit by a car while playing in a southwest Atlanta street.
The accident happened near the intersection of Centra Villa and Venetian drives.
Alford Askew, the husband of the woman who struck the child, told Channel 2 Action News that his wife didn’t see the boy until it was too late.
“She swerved to try to miss the kid,” Askew said.
The boy, whose name has not been released, was taken to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, where he was in critical condition Sunday morning.
Atlanta police told Channel 2 that driver would not likely face charges.
Neighbors complained to Channel 2 that there are no sidewalks or street lights in the area.
Dexter Chambers, a spokesman for the Atlanta City Council, released a statement Sunday addressing those concerns:
“We are sensitive to fact that more sidewalks are needed throughout the city of Atlanta. A sidewalk commission has been established to look at all areas where pedestrian safety should be top priority. With our last bond referendum we focused on installing sidewalks along our school zones. Now our focus is on installing sidewalks throughout all neighborhoods in our city. The Department of Public Works has been informed of the residents’ desire for sidewalks along Venetian Drive and we will make it a top priority.”
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