Two-year-old child hit by driver in Exposition Park area in critical condition

An unattended two-year-old child ran into a street and was struck by a vehicle in the Exposition Park area of Los Angeles, and an investigation was underway Tuesday.

The incident occurred just before midnight when a pair of two-year-old twins got out of their home and were running down Martin Luther King Boulevard. One jumped out from between two parked cars and was struck by a westbound vehicle.

Sergeant Gabriel Nily with LAPD South Traffic Division tells KNX News' Pete Demetriou that, fortunately, the other child did not go into the street.

"Once the collision happened with the child, the other one ran back to his house, and eventually, his parents showed up," Nily said.

The injured child is currently at Children's Hospital, said to be in critical condition.

Want to get caught up on what's happening in SoCal every weekday afternoon? Click to follow The L.A. Local wherever you get podcasts.

Video from the scene showed the red Pontiac sedan in the middle of the roadway with caution tape surrounding it.

Nily said the driver, who is reported to have called 911 after the crash, stayed at the scene and provided aid to the victim.

He has been interviewed, and his statements are being reviewed.

At this point, the investigation is now focusing on the parents and how the children got out of the home at such an hour. They could be facing child endangerment charges, but the D.A.'s office will have to review the matter first.

Anyone with information about the case was urged to call 877-LAPD-247.

City News Service contributed to this article.

Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok