ALOHA, Ore. – Three children were struck by a car while crossing a busy Aloha street inside a crosswalk Sunday night police said.
A 13-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy were thrown over the hood into the windshield of the vehicle. They were both listed in critical condition at Legacy Emanuel Hospital, but authorities said their injuries were not life-threatening. The third child, a 10-year-old girl, suffered only minor injuries, authorities said.
The accident happened just before 5 p.m., in the crosswalk at SW 178th Avenue on Tualatin Valley Highway.
“There are road signs and paint on the roadway marking the crossing, said Sgt. Bob Ray with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. But “it was dark and raining lightly at the time of the incident.” The children were also apparently wearing dark clothing, making them harder to spot.
Witnesses told deputies that traffic was stopped in three out of the four lanes and the children crossed the first three lanes safely. But when they crossed the last lane, all three were struck by the car, Ray said.
The vehicle that hit them was a Ford Taurus driven by 52-year-old Cecilio Venegas, of Gresham. He was cited for passing a stopped vehicle in a crosswalk.
Venegas told deputies that he never saw the children until his car hit them."
SW Tualatin Valley Highway eastbound was closed for about two hours during the investigation.
