Local

12-year-old critical after being hit by car

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A 12-year-old boy is in critical condition after being hit by a car in southwest Atlanta.

Police have not released the name of the child, who remains at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston.

Atlanta police said the child was playing with some friends near Centra Villa Drive and Venetian Drive about 8:30 p.m. Saturday when a driver hit him.

Channel 2 Action News spoke with that woman's husband. He told Channel 2's Liz Artz his wife is really distraught about the accident.

"She's devastated. She's real nervous anyway so something like this, I know she's upset," said Alford Askew.

Askew said his wife just didn't see the child until it was too late.

"She swerved to try to miss the kid," he said.

Nearby resident Gus Pritchett said he is fed up because there are no sidewalks or street lamps, and nothing is being done about it.

"It's a shame for the person who had that accident because she couldn't see that child," Pritchett said.

Pritchett fears another serious accident may happen if no safety measures are taken on the road.

"I've been here 35 years, and it's gotten worse. It's a shame. It's a shame we don't have sidewalks, this street is dark, and it's a shame this happened, and it's going to happen again," Pritchett said.

Police said they are calling the incident a tragic accident and the driver won't face any charges.

"The kid was still alert when they took him to the hospital, so hopefully the kid is OK. That's my main concern," Askew said.

The driver's husband said that he and his wife are praying hard for this child's recovery.