EIDTOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to correct an error. The child was not airlifted to the hospital.
HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — A 14-year-old boy was taken by LIFE Ambulance to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries Thursday morning after being hit by a car, according to Ottawa County Sheriff’s Sgt. Dennis Luce. He has since been discharged.
This crash happened at the intersection of West Randall Street and Pin Oak Drive in Coopersville, just after 7 a.m. Police investigators found that a 60-year-old Coopersville woman, driving a 2018 Chevy Equinox, had been eastbound on Randall and passing Pin Oak, when the boy attempted to run across the street, stepping into oncoming traffic
Across the U.S., pedestrian traffic deaths are at a 20-year high.
In 2018, more than 50 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes. The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, Michigan Department of Transportation, and Michigan State Police shared the following tips to increase safety for drivers and pedestrians:
Pedestrians:
- Use sidewalks whenever possible.
- Cross streets at a corner, using traffic signals and crosswalks when possible. Never cross mid-block.
- Look left-right-left before crossing a street.
- When a sidewalk is not available, walk facing traffic, as far to the left as possible when walking in the roadway.
- Wear reflective clothing and carry a flashlight when walking at night or in the early morning.
Drivers:
- Obey all posted speed limits.
- Stop at traffic signals or stop signs before a crosswalk.
- Yield to pedestrians in a cross-walk at a signalized intersection.
- Don’t block a roadway that interferes with the normal flow of traffic.
Both pedestrians and motorists should take extra caution to be aware of each other, avoid distractions and follow traffic signals.
For more pedestrian safety tips, follow @MIOHSP on Twitter.
