Children Hit by Car in Front of School Remain Hospitalized, Authorities Say

SAN DIEGO, CA: San Diego Police could not say Saturday whether a 70-year-old driver who struck nine children in front of an elementary school Friday will be cited, but the investigation was continuing.

Some of the children remain hospitalized following the incident in front of Del Mar Heights Elementary School, according to authorities.

Nine children and an adult were injured when a car jumped a curb and struck them as class was letting out for the day shortly after 2:30 p.m.

A 70-year-old grandmother was trying to park in front of the campus in the 13500 block of Boquita Drive. She backed her 2012 Honda Civic into another vehicle, according to police, then panicked and rapidly accelerated forward.

That sent her car lurching onto a sidewalk where the adults and children, including an 11-month-old in a stroller, were gathered.

Medics took six of the injured youngsters to hospitals, three with major trauma and the others with minor injuries, said Lee Swanson, a spokesman for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

"The three kids who went to Rady Children's Hospital were pretty serious," Swanson said. Two children were taken to Sharp Memorial in San Diego and another child was taken to Scripps Encinitas.

The most seriously hurt victim was a 5-year-old who suffered a broken thighbone.

Police traffic-division officers were investigating.

City News Service