CHARLOTTE — An 11-year-old boy has died after being hit by a vehicle in northwest Charlotte early Friday morning, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
It occurred just before 7:30 a.m. on Gum Branch Road at Summerlea Drive.
Channel 9 crews observed a pickup truck at the scene with damage to its headlight. There was also a pair of small shoes in the roadway.
Police have not revealed what the juvenile was doing before they were hit, but several neighbors said they often see kids walking down Gum Branch Road to get to school.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools confirmed to Channel 9 that the victim was a sixth-grade student at Coulwood STEM Academy.
CMPD identified the victim as 11-year-old Hendrix Truesdale. Police said he was crossing Gum Branch Road “outside of a marked crosswalk when he was struck by the Nissan Frontier.”
One neighbor told Channel 9 that they woke up to sirens.
“I heard the sirens go off because I was home and I said, ‘Man, that’s really close, I wonder what’s happening,’” said resident Tyeasha Vanburen.
Vanburen said she became concerned when she saw the area blocked off. She said she was shocked when she learned what happened.
“I can’t imagine. My heart dropped because I have a young daughter, and I can’t imagine her doing something as innocent as walking to school and getting injured. It wasn’t until I was on my way back that I saw the child didn’t make it,” Vanburen said.
CMPD has not released the identity of the driver involved in this incident. No charges have been announced.
This is a developing story; check wsoctv.com for updates.
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