Ride on hood ends with injury
Dec. 02--Police continued two separate investigations after two St. Joseph juveniles were reportedly struck by vehicles early this week.
A group of Central and Lafayette high school students were gathered near the corner of Fourth and Highland streets shortly after 3 p.m., said traffic officer Scott Gary with the St. Joseph Police Department. As the group decided to disband, a 16-year-old Lafayette student asked her best friend, a 16-year-old Central student, for a ride to her nearby car.
"One of the young ladies was in her car and started to drive off when her best friend said 'Hold on a second, give me a ride to my car,'" Mr. Gary said. "That young lady then voluntarily jumped onto the hood of the car as the driver kept driving up the road."
The 16-year-old Central High School student continued to drive the 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier south on Fourth Street as the vehicle approached Holman Street.
"The driver slowed down at the top of the hill, perhaps slowed down a little too quick, when the young lady who was on the hood slid off the hood," Mr. Gary said. "She apparently got ran over by the driver's side of the car."
The victim suffered moderate injuries and was transported to Heartland Regional Medical Center, Mr. Gary said. A large group of students lingered behind Lafayette High School and looked visibly shaken from the accident.
The names of those involved in the accident were not immediately available. No summonses were immediately issued as the investigation remained ongoing.
Officers also continue to investigate a separate incident after a juvenile was reportedly struck by a vehicle on Sunday.
A 12-year-old St. Joseph boy rode a mini-bike north on a sidewalk on Meade Street and approached the intersection of Meade and Virginia streets around 4 p.m., said Sgt. Richard Ketchem with the St. Joseph Police Department. The boy attempted to turn left on Virginia Street when he apparently lost control of the mini-bike and crashed into the ground.
Initially, the boy's friend told officers that a vehicle struck the 12-year-old and left the scene. The boy suffered an open fracture to his right leg and was transported to Heartland as officers continued to investigate the incident.
"The bike was moved from its location and the child was being cared for by (emergency responders) when officers got there, so neither the bike nor the operator were in their original positions when the officers arrived," Mr. Ketchem said. "At this point, we will continue to locate any evidence of a second vehicle's involvement."
Officers had not located a second vehicle or evidence that the child was actually struck by a vehicle as of Monday night. Mr. Ketchem said the mini-bike did not meet regulations for use on city streets and the operator did not meet state requirements to operate the vehicle.
Officers said both incidents remained under investigation Monday evening.
Kristin Hoppa can be reached at kristin.hoppa@newspressnow.com. Follow her on Twitter: @SJNPHoppa.
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