Boy, 8, Hit by Car Near His Home

An 8-year-old boy “amazingly” escaped serious injury late Sunday afternoon when struck near his home in the 12600 block of Josephine Street by a hit-and-run motorist, police reported.

The boy, who was not identified, suffered only a few cuts and scratches even though he was hit so hard by a car at 5:55 p.m. that it knocked him out of his shoes, Police Lt. Chuck Gibbs said. “The boy’s shoes were several feet away from where he was hit, and it’s amazing that he escaped with just a few scrapes and contusions,” Gibbs said.

Gibbs said the boy was treated Sunday night at Humana Hospital-Westminster and released “after getting some first aid.” Gibbs added, “Even the doctors were amazed that he survived with so few injuries.”

Gibbs said the boy was playing near his home when he darted into Josephine Street in front of an approaching car. “Witnesses told us that the car hit the boy with such a force that it brought them outdoors. It sounded like the car had hit another car,” Gibbs said.

Witnesses told police that the male driver of the car briefly stopped after hitting the boy but then drove off.

Gibbs said the car was a yellow Toyota Celica with “a California license plate that is something like, but not exactly like, 2PTL159.”