WATCH: New video of boy, 15, struck by Elyria police cruiser

ELYRIA , Ohio (WJW) — Elyria police are investigating an incident during which the cruiser of a police officer trying to catch up with a hit-and-run suspect — who fled the scene of a crash on foot — ended up striking a 15-year-old boy trying to help a victim of the original accident.

Police body and dashboard camera videos of the incident appear to show that both the officer and the teenager had the best of intentions, but the timing of what happened led to the unfortunate outcome.

The story began to unfold on Friday at 4:15 p.m., when the officer was alerted by radio that after a car accident at West Avenue and 11 ^th Street, the driver of a silver Honda Accord who caused the crash had fled the scene on foot.

Investigators said while other officers were investigating the crash, the patrolman’s assignment was to attempt to catch up with the suspect, and as his cruiser was passing the scene of the accident with his overhead lights activated, the 15-year-old boy, who was not involved in the accident, ran out from behind one of the cars and was struck by the cruiser.

After being hit, the boy ran and then collapsed in the grass on the side of the street, where witnesses rushed to his side, as did the officer.

Relatives of the 15-year-old told officers at the scene that after the initial accident, the boy was among witnesses who checked on a woman who was injured. They said the door of her SUV was smashed shut and the boy apparently decided to retrieve a tool to help free the victim when he was struck.

A woman who identified herself as the boy’s grandmother told officers, “He was trying to help get the door open and he had come home to get something to pry it, but why he was coming back across, I don’t know.”

On the officer’s body camera video, the officer is heard telling a supervisor that the boy ran into the side of his cruiser.

“I was coming around here, he just bolts right across. I’m pretty sure he ran into my mirror. He ran right into me,” he said.

The boy was treated at the scene by paramedics and then taken by ambulance to the UH Elyria Medical Center. No information has been released about the extent of his injuries or his condition.

The officer, who was not injured, was placed on administrative leave, which is considered standard in such cases. The incident is now the focus of an investigation by Elyria police, into whether the officer’s actions were in-line with departmental policies.

On the video, he and his supervisor are heard expressing disappointment and frustration about how the incident unfolded. The officer is heard asking, “Why were you running across the road?” His supervisor then responded, “It’s not your fault, he ran in front of you.”

We are told that after police complete their investigation, their findings will be turned over to the Elyria Law Director’s Office, which will decide if anyone is at fault and if any discipline is warranted.

In a news release, the Elyria Police Department wished the 15-year-old boy a “full and speedy recovery.”

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