10-year-old hit by vehicle in Brooklyn Park near elementary school

An elementary student was injured after being struck by a car while trying to get to school Friday.

The Brooklyn Park Police Department said the crash happened at the intersection of Brookdale Drive and Noble Avenue just outside Birch Grove Elementary School.

One parents tells 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS this is an intersection that kids travel through often.

“It’s an extreme safety concern for me,” said Monica Socha, who has a son who crosses that crosswalk often.

Socha’s 7-year-old boy attends the nearby school and was worried the moment she learned of Friday’s crash.

“I was scared that it could’ve been my kid,” Socha said.

Police said a 10-year-old boy was walking in the crosswalk on Noble Avenue when he was struck by a vehicle that was traveling east on Brookdale Drive. The boy was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive.

“After hearing some descriptions of what it looked like when the incident actually happened I think we’re all counting our blessings for the condition that the child ended up in,” said Elliot Faust, public information officer with the Brooklyn Park Police Department.

Faust says BPPD does not believe alcohol is a factor and the driver stayed on scene.

The incident comes days after another student in Brooklyn Park was hit by a vehicle. In that incident, a 12-year-old was attempting to get to a bus stop when she was hit by a vehicle. The driver of that vehicle did not stop and has not yet been found.

“There’s other people’s lives and livelihoods that are on the line when we are behind the wheel,” Faust said.

Now police say you can expect more enforcement throughout the city — especially around schools.

“When you’re driving responsibly it’s easier to do that when you’re really paying attention to your surroundings, making sure distractions aren’t part of the conversation,” Faust said.

There were crossing guards present at the time of Friday’s crash, but Socha believes more needs to be done to protect the students.

“Every parent should feel like their kid can walk to school safely so this is an issue that needs to be addressed,” Socha said.

Criminal charges have not been filed at this time as police continue to investigate.