Wandering toddler suffers non-life-threatening injuries after struck by SUV

Wednesday night a child was hit by an SUV near Avenue A and 21st Street.

The four-year-old boy was seen wandering the busy road alone minutes before he was struck.

Thursday, News 11 learned that child has non-life threatening injuries.

According to the Yuma Police Department (YPD), the boy’s mother reported him missing at 8:19 pm on Wednesday.

However, officers said they had already received reports that the child was seen in the middle of Avenue A.

A neighbor said he always saw the boy walking with his father, and found it odd that the child was running around the neighborhood alone.

The neighbor recalled what happened moments before the child was hit, saying ” Out of the corner of my eye, I see something. I have my own daughter and my neighbors have kids. So I’m looking out and I saw the boy running and then a few minutes later I saw his dad walking by yelling his name. And I feel really, really bad, but you’re supposed to keep an eye on your children. ”

Police said officers were driving down Avenue A searching for the toddler when a 67-year-old man driving a Ford Expedition accidentally hit the boy just near Ronnie’s Pizza.

The man continued driving, not realizing what occurred.

Officers were able to pull the driver over and the four-year-old was immediately taken to Yuma Regional Medical Center.

The child was later flown to Phoenix with non-life-threatening injuries.

As for the driver of the SUV, YPD said there was no alcohol involved, and due to the size of the vehicle, the child may not have been visible to the driver.