A 1-year-old child is recovering Tuesday after his stroller was struck by an SUV on U.S. 301, according to the Sarasota Police Department.
The crash occurred 10 a.m. on U.S. 301 between Fruitville Road and Fifth Street as the child’s grandmother tried to cross the street while pushing the stroller, police said.
They were struck by a Cadillac SUV.
“The stroller was completely destroyed. All I could see were his little legs. You could see the blood, so it obviously was some kind of injury,” Sharon Atkinson said.
The boy is in stable condition at All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg. The grandmother was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The SUV driver cooperated with investigators and charges are not expected. Police said the driver of the SUV had the right of way, turning left on 301 from Fourth Street.
We’re told she was visibly shaken.
“She pulled over right away. She was the first person to call 911. She tried to see how the child and grandmother were doing,” said Kevin Schafer, traffic investigator with the Sarasota Police Department.
It hits home for many people who walk near 301 and Fruitville Road every day.
“My little girl is in a stroller. She’s only 8 months old, so she’s the first thing that they see,” Atkinson said.
“We cross these roads at least 12 to 15 times a day,” Ayisha Carter said.
In this case, the crosswalk was just a block away, but some say that’s not always the case.
“ I think all the crosswalks are too far apart. That’s why sometimes I’ll choose to go across the street because its shorter distance,” Carter said.
“I should probably use the walkway right there but unfortunately I don’t,” Gayle Stevenson said.
Now with a baby and grandmother in the hospital, for some it’s a lesson learned. Pedestrians we spoke to say they’ll start taking extra precautions.
“It’s just not worth being hit by a car so maybe from now on, I will use it.”
“I try to take more back roads than anything,” said Stevenson.
Police said the grandmother could face a charge related to not using a crosswalk, which will likely be a pedestrian violation. The investigation is ongoing.
