10-year-old critically injured crossing DeKalb road

LITHONIA, Ga. — Police are investigating a crash on a busy road in DeKalb County that left a child critically injured.

The crash happened at the intersection of Panola Road and Panola Way Road in Lithonia. Police shut down the northbound lanes of Panola Road at Covington Highway as traffic specialists took pictures and marked the scene.

Channel 2's Sophia Choi spoke to witnesses, who said the boy darted out into the street while running to Panola Way Elementary School. The 10-year-old was struck by a black Mercedes SUV around 7 a.m. Tuesday.

"I heard a lady outside crying like something happened, and there was (a) little boy on the ground, and it looked like he was unconscious, and he wasn't moving at all," witness Tyrone Caldwell told Choi.

A school administrator showed up to the scene, but declined to make a public statement. He did say he was rushing back to the school to prepare counselors to talk to students about what happened.

The boy is being treated at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. DeKalb County police identified him as Moses Moore, reported Channel 2's Shae Rozzi. Moore's brother said the 10-year-old was suspended from school Monday, but for some reason, the child thought he was only suspended from the school bus.

A neighbor said the boy usually ridges the bus but came knocking on her door just before 7 a.m.

"He said, 'Miss Tiffany, can you take me to school because I'm suspended off the bus? And I was like, 'Yeah, we could take you.' And by the time we came back out he was gone," neighbor Tiffany Goodson said.

Off-camera, Moore's brother said their mother was sleeping and had no idea Moses had left home. A Channel 2 photographer spotted police escorting her to the hospital to see her son.

Residents said the area is full of children, and they feel the loss.

"I feel sad for the mother to see her son laying out on the ground. I couldn't imagine something like that happening," Caldwell said.

Police said they don't know yet if the driver will face any charges. Officers said witnesses told them the boy was in a crosswalk, but did dart in front of the car.

Investigators said the crash happened in a school zone, and they're still trying to figure out how fast the SUV was going.

Moore's mother released the following statement on Wednesday afternoon:

"Thank you to everyone for your outpouring of love and support for Moses.  We appreciate your prayers and concern, and we ask that you keep praying for Moses.  We would like to request privacy for Moses and our family during this difficult time," she said.

WSBTV