Eight Year Old Hit, Severely Injured Across From Foothill Middle School In Walnut Creek Wednesday

We Flashed our Walnut Creek subscribers Wednesday evening after we learned of a vehicle versus child collision at Cedro Lane and Cafeto in Walnut Creek and have learned that the child was severely injured in that crash.

Contra Costa County Fire Protection District spokesman Robert Marshall confirmed our version of the account Thursday, saying the unidentified 8-year-old suffered major injuries, including a head injury, after contact with an unspecified type of vehicle at 6:33 p.m.

As we advised at the time, the child was flown by Calstar helicopter to Children’s Hospital in Oakland, the air ambulance lifting off from an emergency landing zone at 7:05 p.m.

Several readers, including some parents who contacted this site to inquire about the incident, reminded us that Back to School Night was just starting at Foothill Middle School when the collision occurred, reporting heavy traffic in the area at the time.

Walnut Creek police investigators said the boy may have surprised a driver in the area by darting out into the street, adding that the driver remained on scene and cooperated fully as first responders arrived. They said neither drugs nor alcohol played a part in the accident and no criminal or negligent intent was apparent – calling the collision “a highly visible incident during a busy night at the school.”

Police said they were not apprised of the child’s condition but said the helicopter life flight was largely precautionary and that the child appeared to have suffered a facial laceration and perhaps lost a tooth.