Police: Bentonville student was running across road when hit

Glenn Bertand, left, police crime scene investigator, and Officer Andy Ball inspect damage to a vehicle Thursday that struck a Washington Junior High School seventh-grader on East Central Avenue and Jay Court in Bentonville. The condition of the boy hasn’t been released.

Glenn Bertand, left, police crime scene investigator, and Officer Andy Ball inspect damage to a vehicle Thursday that struck a Washington Junior High School seventh-grader on East Central Avenue and Jay Court in Bentonville. The condition of the boy hasn’t been released.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

A 12-year-old pedestrian was running across traffic when he was hit by a vehicle and seriously injured last week in Bentonville, according to a news release from the Bentonville Police Department.

The vehicle, a 2011 Nissan Armada, was driven by Stephanie Reese, according to the news release. The accident happened the afternoon of Oct. 18 on East Central Avenue near Brookhaven Court.

"The driver of the vehicle did not have time to react before hitting the pedestrian," the news release stated.

The student was not at an intersection and did not have a crosswalk, according to the news release. He is at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Mo., the news release stated.

News release

Bentonville, AR⎯ Thursday, October 18th, 2012, the Bentonville Police Department initiated an investigation into a traffic accident involving a vehicle and a pedestrian. The accident occurred at approximately 3:46 p.m. on E Central Avenue close to the intersection of NE Brookhaven Court. The accident involved a 2011 Nissan Armada driven by Stephanie Reese and a 12 year old male pedestrian.

The vehicle was traveling eastbound in the inside lane of E Central Avenue. The pedestrian was walking westbound on a side walk that is located on the north side of the road. The pedestrian turned to the south and ran across the westbound lanes into the center turn lane of E Central. The pedestrian then stopped between a Bentonville School bus and a Jeep Wrangler. Without looking, the pedestrian began to run southbound across the eastbound lanes of traffic. The driver of the vehicle did not have time to react before hitting the pedestrian.

The contributing factor of this accident has been determined to be the failure on the pedestrian’s behalf to cross the roadway at a marked crosswalk or at an intersection. An off-duty Rogers paramedic and a Bentonville Policeman were on scene just seconds after the accident to provide aid to the pedestrian.

The pedestrian is still receiving treatment for his injuries at Mercy Hospital located in Springfield, Missouri.