Child Getting Ice Cream is Hit by Truck

A child was in critical condition in Orange County on Sunday after being hit by a pickup truck and dragged down a street.

Police said it all happened in front of horrified onlookers who were buying treats from an ice cream truck in the Lockhart area of Orange County, not far from Forest City Road, just after 5 p.m. Saturday.

Jonathan Newkirk, 6, was rushed to Arnold Palmer Hospital.

The Florida Highway Patrol trooper who is handling the case said the boy and his father don’t live in Lockhart, but instead live in Poinciana in Osceola County.

Witnesses said Jonathan was standing next to an ice cream truck along with some others and was attempting to run back to the sidewalk, where his father was close by. That’s when he was hit by a white pickup truck, police said.

“I was buying ice cream with my brother and one of the little kids ran in front of the ice cream truck to cross the street, and another truck came and hit him and dragged him about 20 feet,” said witness Ronald Cruz. “The little kid was laying there on the ground, and I rushed to him as he was bleeding from his ears and his mouth.”

The driver of the pickup truck was 28-year-old David Diaz, of Orlando. He was taken away by officers but was not arrested and has not been charged so far, police said.

Police said the crash remains under investigation.

Source (article): WESH

Source (picture): ORLANDOHEALTH