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Child injured by vehicle at intersection

Courtesy art A Michigan sheriff logo.

ALPENA ― A sports utility vehicle struck a child at the intersection of 3rd Avenue and Hobbs Drive in Alpena Township this morning, sending the child to the hospital, police reported.

An SUV driver turning left from Hobbs onto 3rd, headed toward Thunder Bay Junior High School, did not see the 11-year-old girl, who was crossing 3rd on her way to school, according to police.

The SUV’s driver’s side front quarter panel struck the child.

A witness said the vehicle went over the child, but its tires did not strike her. According to the witness, the girl had been waved on by another driver who had paused to allow the girl to cross.

According to family, the child sustained only minor injuries.

Other children have experienced near misses or been brushed by cars at that intersection on their walks to school, according to Alpena County Undersheriff Erik Smith.

Calling the intersection’s conditions “unacceptable” for the safety of children, Smith noted the darkness of the corner despite student’s need to walk there before sunrise for part of the school year.

The road sees heavy traffic in the morning as the only way to access the junior high school.

“I wouldn’t want my kid walking there, I can tell you that,” Smith said.

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