GRANITE CITY, IL (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
A Metro East boy is hospitalized Monday after he was hit by a car while riding on his skateboard. The teen, identified as 14 year old Austin Christoff from Granite City, is listed in serious condition at Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center in South St. Louis. Family and friends are at the hospital offering prayers and support. Granite City police are calling the incident an accident and no charges are being filed.
But the town's mayor says this tragedy is why a plan he's pushing is so important.
"This is the skateboard he was on right here," explained a friend of Austin Christoff's family, Dave Wilson, as he showed us the skateboard Austin was riding on when the incident happened. Dave was at the scene just moments after it all happened.
"The child was laying on the ground really messed up, you know- bleeding pretty bad out of mouth and nose, his head," said Dave.
Granite City police say the incident happened a little before four thirty in the afternoon at the intersection of 23rd and Cleveland. Investigators tell us Austin was riding his skateboard when he darted out into the street and was hit by the car.
Granite City police say the driver of the car was not speeding and could not avoid hitting Austin. Austin was first taken to a hospital in Granite City then arched to Cardinal Glennon. Dave is shaken by what happened to his friend.
"It was horrifying. He's just a little kid. He's a little kid, he's a baby to me," said Dave.
Granite City mayor Ed Hagnauer lives just feet from where the crash happened.He says there is too much traffic on side streets like Cleveland where this took place.And that creates safety issues. The mayor tells us he wants to partially block off around eight streets in the area where the accident happened in hopes of limiting thru traffic.
"What I would hope is that it would take away all traffic other than those who live here- would take everybody out to the main drag," explained Mayor Hagnauer.
Dave gave Austin's skateboard to another family friend. He's hoping for the best for Austin.
"Now it's just time to do a lot of praying, a lot of praying," said Dave.
Mayor Hagnauer says he would possibly put up big planters on the streets to limit the thru traffic and better control speed.
Granite City police say in this case the driver did stop and again did nothing wrong.
But the town's mayor says this tragedy is why a plan he's pushing is so important.
"This is the skateboard he was on right here," explained a friend of Austin Christoff's family, Dave Wilson, as he showed us the skateboard Austin was riding on when the incident happened. Dave was at the scene just moments after it all happened.
"The child was laying on the ground really messed up, you know- bleeding pretty bad out of mouth and nose, his head," said Dave.
Granite City police say the incident happened a little before four thirty in the afternoon at the intersection of 23rd and Cleveland. Investigators tell us Austin was riding his skateboard when he darted out into the street and was hit by the car.
Granite City police say the driver of the car was not speeding and could not avoid hitting Austin. Austin was first taken to a hospital in Granite City then arched to Cardinal Glennon. Dave is shaken by what happened to his friend.
"It was horrifying. He's just a little kid. He's a little kid, he's a baby to me," said Dave.
Granite City mayor Ed Hagnauer lives just feet from where the crash happened.He says there is too much traffic on side streets like Cleveland where this took place.And that creates safety issues. The mayor tells us he wants to partially block off around eight streets in the area where the accident happened in hopes of limiting thru traffic.
"What I would hope is that it would take away all traffic other than those who live here- would take everybody out to the main drag," explained Mayor Hagnauer.
Dave gave Austin's skateboard to another family friend. He's hoping for the best for Austin.
"Now it's just time to do a lot of praying, a lot of praying," said Dave.
Mayor Hagnauer says he would possibly put up big planters on the streets to limit the thru traffic and better control speed.
Granite City police say in this case the driver did stop and again did nothing wrong.
