Child Struck By Vehicle On Miles Avenue

LA QUINTA – A woman driving a Hummer sport utility vehicle struck a 5-year-old girl in La Quinta today, severely injuring the child’s limbs, authorities said.

The accident occurred at the intersection of Miles Avenue and Seeley Drive shortly after a group of children were dropped off by a school bus on the north side of Miles Avenue about 2 p.m., Lt. Raymond Gregory of the La Quinta Police Department said.

The children began walking eastbound with the victim lagging a short distance behind, when the Hummer and another vehicle were exiting the group to pass, Gregory said.

The 43-year-old woman driving the Hummer pulled forward into the intersection “as soon as the main part of the group passed” and struck the girl, police said.

The child’s relatives, who had been waiting nearby and saw what happened, and rushed to her aid until emergency personnel arrived, Gregory said.

The girl was taken to a hospital with severe injuries to some of her limbs, he said. Her condition was not released.

Officers spoke to witnesses and evaluated the driver following the accident, he said, adding that drugs or alcohol did not appear to be factors in the crash.

Streets in the area were shut down for several hours to accommodate the investigation.

Anyone with information on the accident was asked to call the La Quinta Traffic Services office at (760) 863-8990 or Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-STOP.