Boy in Amamosa crash 'doing OK'

The 13-year-old boy who was struck by a car Monday afternoon in Anamosa will survive the scary ordeal, police said.

Anamosa Police Chief Robert Simonson said the driver of the car was turning left onto South Cleveland Street from East Main Street around 3:35 p.m. when she hit the boy as he was crossing the street. The impact sent the boy up onto the hood of the car, where he hit the windshield.

Simonson said the boy was recovering Tuesday at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

“He's doing OK, from what I've heard,” Simonson said. “I don't know the extent of his injuries, but I know he had cuts and a fair amount of bleeding from his face.”

Interviews with witnesses and the 17-year-old driver of the car took place into the evening Monday. Simonson said he hadn't yet been briefed on the information gathered. He said the investigation would determine if any charges would be filed.

Simonson said the boy and girl had just left school, and the boy had walked about five blocks when he was struck. He said another police officer happened to be driving by and was on the scene “within seconds.”

Witnesses told SourceMedia Group the boy was alert, conscious and speaking after the crash.

“His face was all bloody,” said Kayla Bridges, a passerby. “I could see he was breathing because his shirt was up. But, he wasn't moving.”

The teen said the image of the boy's backpack also will stick with her.

“The straps were shredded in half,” Bridges said. “They were in pieces.”