Centerville bicyclist hit in crosswalk

CENTERVILLE — A 12-year-old Centerville boy was hospitalized with suffered serious head injuries Tuesday after a car hit him while he was riding his bike in a crosswalk.

Jacob Park was crossing Chase Lane at 400 West at 8 p.m. when police say a vehicle driven by Evelyn Cook, 37, hit him with her Mazda CX-9, throwing the boy from his bike. He was then run over by the car, Centerville Police Lt. Paul Child said.

Jacob was taken by AirMed helicopter to Primary Children's Medical Center. His condition is unknown, but Child said the boy "was bleeding from his head and nose, and he exhibited signs of significant head and brain trauma." He was not conscious at the scene when officers arrived.

Cook, who was driving west, told officers she never saw the boy before the accident. Another motorist, who was driving east at the same time, also told police he didn't see the boy in the road.

"This intersection was lit by one street light on the northeast corner," Child said. "The boy was wearing dark clothing and was not wearing a helmet. At the time of this crash, the sun had set, and it was getting dark."

The crash was still under investigation. Cook and Jacob live in the same neighborhood, and the two families know each other, Child said.

— Jacob Hancock