3-year-old boy hit by car on Wednesday afternoon, neighbors want more cautious driving

SOUTH BEND, Ind. --- A three-year-old boy was hit by a car on Wednesday afternoon near Marquette and O’Brien Street in South Bend.

The boy suffered an injury to his upper arm. Police said children were playing in an area near an alley when a car turned in.

The driver told police officers one of the children said hello to her and caused her to look and wave. Police said she heard a bang, backed up, and saw the young boy on a scooter in front of her car next to the shoulder.

She told police she did not see the child. Richard Pointon, who said he saw the police respond, said cars do not slow down at all for children in the neighborhood.

The speed limit is 25 miles per hour. Pointon said cars will exceed the speed limit by 30 to 40 MPH.

“They don’t slow down at all,” he said.

After Maliyah Davis, 6, died last year from a hit and run, neighbors echoed the same concern about high speeds.

“Cars drive through here like seventy miles and hour,” Pointon said.

Friends of the child hit on December 26 said the boy was conscious and crying after he was hit. Police said the three-year-old was taken to the hospital.

SBPD said in any case like this everyone involved would be questioned, especially the driver. An official said other witnesses to the incident declined to speak with police.

Also a breathalyzer would be conducted, in any case, if there was suspicion of impaired driving.