MIAMI — An 11-year-old girl was struck by a City of Miami Fire Rescue truck Friday morning while crossing the street near SLAM! Miami, authorities confirmed.
According to Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Pete Sanchez, the crash occurred just before 8 a.m. as the fire rescue truck was transporting a patient to Jackson Memorial Hospital.
At the time of the crash, the MFR truck was heading south in the northbound lanes.
“The Miami Fire Rescue (truck) -- due to the fact that traffic was backed up, went into the opposite traffic, which they are allowed to do to get that patient that they were treating to the hospital as soon as possible,” Officer Mike Vega, with the Miami Police Department, said. “And at that time is when the young girl goes between stopped vehicles – two rows of stopped vehicles – without looking to her left ... just crossed. I guess she realized what she had done and tried to back up, but by that time, it was too late."
According to Sanchez, the truck had its lights and siren on when the girl “unexpectedly stepped out between standstill traffic.”
“In an attempt to avoid the child, the rescue unit made an evasive maneuver but unfortunately struck her,” Sanchez said in an email to Local 10 News. “Crews immediately stopped, began assessing the child, and rendered medical aid on scene.”
Sanchez confirmed that another fire rescue truck transported the girl to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center. Her condition has not yet been released.
“The original patient being transported at the time of the incident was safely transferred to another rescue unit and continued transport to the hospital without further delay,” Sanchez said.
A Local 10 News crew was in the area after the accident and saw sneakers in the road where the truck was stopped.
There were no crossing guards near the school, located at 542 NW 12th Ave., when the crash occurred as the bell had already rang.
Vehicles were stopped on the crosswalk after the crash, so it appeared the girl was crossing about 4 feet away from it when she was hit.
“Her shoes—they just flew off when she was struck. She ended up on this mark, she didn’t move,” said a woman named Hellen, who was dropping her daughter off at school. “At the moment, it took time to react … we thought she was gone.”
Another witness, Rita Newa, a former nurse, said she was traumatized by what she saw.
“I feel bad for the kid and I just pray she pulls through. The driver was inconsolable,” Newa said. “He broke down, he tried everything.”
Traffic was at a standstill at the time, and no crossing guards were present because the first bell had already rung. Vehicles were stopped on the crosswalk, and the girl was crossing about four feet away from it.
Photos were taken at the scene, and the girl’s shoes were collected as evidence.
“Our thoughts are with the student and their family during this difficult time,” a statement from the school read in part. “The school is in contact with the family and offering support.”
Sanchez said MFR is speaking with witnesses and working with the Miami Police Department amid the ongoing investigation.
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