A 12-year-old boy is in critical condition after he was stuck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle in Garland, police say.
Officers said the boy was on his way to play basketball with his friends at nearby Northlake Baptist Church when he tried to cross North Country Road near Meridian Way and was struck by a woman driving a black sport utility vehicle.
Police said it appears the boy pulled out in front of the driver, giving her very little time to stop.
Officers said the driver slammed on her breaks but still hit the boy, sending his belongings, including a backpack with a basketball inside, flying across the road.
Officer said the boy was not wearing a helmet.
Paramedics rushed him to Children's Medical Center of Dallas via air ambulance.
Police would not comment on the boy's injuries, only saying that he was in critical condition.
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Officers said the woman was not at fault and was not speeding or on her phone at the time of the accident.
"From what we can see, she did everything she was supposed to do," Garland police spokesman Officer Joe Harn said. "She stayed here and, again, right now, [according to the] preliminary investigation, [it] does not appear that she is at fault in this."
Harn said the incident needs to be a lesson for children and drivers everywhere, as summer is just beginning and more children will be outside playing.
"Just be careful all the time," he said. "This is the very thing you don't want. And, just as you said, school has just let out, and here we have a child hit by a car."
