Child killed, three other people injured after vehicle strikes group near Dallas elementary school, police say
A child was killed and three others, including two children and an adult, were injured Thursday afternoon after being struck by a truck near Felix G. Botello Elementary School in Oak Cliff, according to Dallas police.
Truck hits pedestrians near school
The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. in the 200 block of South Marsalis Avenue, just off Interstate 35E.
Emergency responders from Dallas Fire-Rescue transported the injured to a hospital. Dallas Independent School District officials confirmed that the three children - a 12-year-old boy and two 8-year-old girls - were students at the school. One of the children died from their injuries. The other two remain in critical but stable condition at Children's Medical Center. The adult is in stable condition.
Crash happened after dismissal
The crash happened shortly after school dismissal, officials said.
Police said the driver, an elderly individual, remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation. Authorities do not believe speed was a factor.
Neighbors describe tragic scene
Andrea Williams, a neighborhood resident, described the scene with visible emotion.
"When I got out of the car I saw all the blood and the babies' clothes, and I put two and two together," Williams said. "Summer hasn't even started and things like this happen, and as a parent it just worries you."
Residents say area is dangerous
Brian Evans, another neighbor, expressed sorrow but not surprise.
"I'm very saddened by it, but I'm not surprised," Evans said. "There's children always crossing the street going to the apartment complex."
Evans recalled a recent near-miss at the same location.
"It was a young gentleman walking across the street with two little girls - and literally two children almost got hit," he said. "The car had to stop immediately."
Community demands safety measures
As the community mourns, residents are calling for increased safety measures and urging both drivers and pedestrians to exercise extreme caution, especially near schools.
