CLEARLAKE ? A boy was struck by a vehicle around 12:30 p.m. Friday near Clearlake Resort on Old Highway 53 and Ridgeview Drive. Injuries sustained by the child required aerial transport via air ambulance.
“A child was walking on the side of the roadway at the same time a vehicle was making a turn and they impacted,” Clearlake Police Officer Todd Miller said, adding that the incident is under investigation.
The unidentified boy was transported to St. Helena Hospital, Clearlake by a medic unit of the Lake County Fire Protection District where he was later transferred via medical helicopter.
According to the 23-year-old driver of the 2001 Ford F350 that struck the child, he was traveling south on Old Highway 53 when he successfully avoided two other children who were walking in the roadway in front of the child who was struck.
He said when he maneuvered the truck in effort to avoid crossing the yellow line he saw the child who he said was walking on or very near to the white shoulder line.
Although he applied the brakes, he was unable to avoid colliding with the child.
“It happened so fast,” he said. “I couldn”t have been doing more than 20 mph when I hit him.”
The City of Clearlake does have a daytime curfew for children younger than 18 years. According Municipal Code 5-3.4, “It is unlawful for any minor under the age of eighteen (18) years, who is subject to compulsory education or to compulsory continuation education, to be ?absent from school and found in a public place.””
A minor is considered absent from school and found in a public place if “said minor is found idling, wandering, strolling, playing, or aimlessly driving or riding about in or upon any public street, avenue, highway, road, curb area, alley, park, playground, or other public ground, public place or public building, place of amusement or eating place, vacant lot or unsupervised place, or any place open to the public during the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. of the same days when said minor”s school is in session.”
According to Lt. Mike Hermann, expulsion and/or suspension from school does not constitute an exemption from Municipal Code 5-3.4.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
