Photo by Michelle Chance

A driver allegedly struck an 8-year-old pedestrian in Rancho El Dorado Wednesday afternoon, police said.

The incident occurred around 2:10 p.m. on Rancho El Dorado Parkway near Backus Drive.

“The kid hurt his hip and may have hit his head, so he is being transported to Cardon Children’s Hospital as a precaution,” said Maricopa Police Department spokesman Ricardo Alvarado.

Emergency crews don’t believe the child’s injuries will be life threatening, Alvarado added.

The child was apparently playing with his younger brother shortly before the incident. Alvarado said the 8-year-old boy was hiding behind a bush on the south side of Rancho El Dorado Parkway.

A driver heading east, noticed a child on the north side of the road and slowed his speed. However, Alvarado said the driver didn’t see the boy on the south side of the street dart into the road.

Alvarado said MPD doesn’t have an estimated speed for the driver at the time of the incident. The speed limit in the area is 25 mph.

“Luckily, he was already slowing down,” Alvarado said.

MPD does not suspect impairment as a factor.


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