A child was hit by a vehicle while their riding bicycle. Here’s what we know
A child was airlifted after being struck by a vehicle in Modesto on Thursday evening, according to officials.
The child was riding their bike near the intersection of Kansas Avenue and Reno Avenue when they were struck. Paramedics and the Modesto Fire Department responded at about 6 p.m. and found the child, estimated to be about 8-years-old, injured in the roadway.
A decision was made to airlift the child to a pediatric trauma center. The extent of their injuries was unknown as of Friday morning. The Modesto Police Department was investigating the incident.
There was no information from MPD on whether the driver was arrested or cited.
Earlier this week MPD, conducted a bicycle and pedestrian safety operation which came with increased enforcement on traffic violations related to the topic. These included speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield or provide right of way to bicyclists or pedestrians and failing to stop for signs and signals.
“We all have places to be and not everyone gets there by car,” Sgt. Robert Hall stated in a press release. “Bicyclists and pedestrians have the same rights to the road but face even more risk without the protections vehicles have. We should all be looking out for one another.”
MPD recommended the following to pedestrians, cyclists and drivers aimed at preventing these situations:
Pedestrians
• Be predictable. Use crosswalks, when available.
• Take notice of approaching vehicles and practice due care.
• Do not walk or run into the path of a vehicle. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop.
• Be visible. Make it easy for drivers to see you – wear light colors, reflective material and carry a flashlight, particularly at dawn, dusk or at night.
• Be extra careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night when it is harder to see, or when crossing busier streets with more lanes and higher speed limits.
Drivers
• Follow the speed limit and slow down at intersections. Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks.
• Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn.
• Never drive impaired.
Bicyclists
• Obey traffic laws, use hand signals, use lights at night (front white light and rear red reflector), and wear a helmet.
• Bicyclists must travel in the same direction of traffic and have the same requirements as any slow-moving vehicle.
• Avoid the door zone: do not ride too closely to parked cars.
• If there’s a bike lane, use it, unless making a left turn, passing, or approaching a place where a right turn is allowed.
• Yield to pedestrians. Bicyclists must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within marked crosswalks or within unmarked crosswalks at intersections.
