A child, who appeared to be about 3-years-old, sustained minor injuries when a car struck the toddler’s stroller Friday afternoon at the corner of 17th and Harrison streets.
Sometime around 4 p.m., the child’s mother, accompanied by her other son, was pushing the stroller across the street when a Silver Saab sedan traveling westbound on 17th Street hit the stroller, flipping it into the air.
The stroller landed about five feet from the crosswalk, witnesses said. The mother was using the crosswalk at the four-way stop intersection, according to the witnesses.
The mother’s screams could be heard for blocks. The other child, who appeared to be about 8 years old, was also crying.
The child in the stroller was conscious and crying when the ambulance arrived two minutes later. He had a scrape on the right side of his face. A firefighter on the scene said it appeared that the child was going to be fine.
The child was treated on the scene and then taken to the hospital.
The driver immediately stopped and was very visibly distraught. She told police that the sun was in her eyes.
Witnesses at the scene said the incident could have been worse, but luckily the child was in the best travel system which allowed the stroller to be moved rather than stay in a place and the baby in the stroller was wearing his seatbelt.
I’m glad the kid is OK. I’m also glad the driver stayed at the scene.
When the sun is in my eyes, I just go.
I am a frequent stroller-pushing pedestrian in the Mission and I have become “that mom.” I yell at everyone who DOES NOT STOP before the crosswalk at intersections. People running red lights, people rolling through red lights to make a right turn, not fully stopping at stop signs…it’s constant. Not to mention the idiots on their phones. I don’t get it – the Mission is full of pedestrians; how can one not be aware that people will be in the sidewalk? ps. this goes for cyclists, too.
As a 24th Street corridor dad, cars running stop signs and rolling right through red lights are a constant problem. I caution any pedestrian — especially parents — from crossing unless you’ve made eye contact with the driver or cyclist.
I recently saved my son’s life by not crossing when it was clear that the man in the Mercedes SUV was not intending to stop at the crosswalk, despite having a stop sign. Shocker — he was texting. Also, he looked to be in his 40s and should have known better.
I’m very glad to hear that this little boy is OK.
Glad. Your brought up cyclists as well 🙂
I’m a frequent walker and I see the same thing. One trend that is very disturbing is cars who can’t wait for pedestrians to get across the the street. They pull into the intersection even though you have the right of way and really push the limit of how close they come to you.
Despite more and more accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists, it seems like drivers are becoming even more aggressive. While it used to be that you’d see people doing a rolling stop, sometimes they just blow through, without even touching the brakes.
The sun is setting in a more south westerly direction than that (it being December and all.) I call foul on her story. Glad the kid is alright.
Sherlock,
17th turns southwest at exactly that point.
I’ve experienced that problem. Same thing at night, as pedestrians can be very difficult to see, especially if they are wearing dark clothing. The answer to this issue is to drive more slowly.