12-Year-Old Boy Killed While Sledding After Hit-And-Run

Nine miles away from each other in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, two 12-year-old boys were hit by cars while sledding. One of the boys is dead and police continue to search for the driver of the hit and run, and the other boy is injured. This comes as a snowstorm swept the nation and left more than a quarter of a million people without power and schools closed for inclement weather.

It's quite unusual for two similar incidents to occur on the same day, let alone within an hour of one another, Chris Walker, the police department's public information officer, told Newsweek. Statistics from Med Page Today show that collisions with both inanimate and moving vehicles cause a little more than 50 percent of sledding accidents, and those collisions cause a high amount of brain injuries. Boys sustain 60 percent of all injuries from sledding.

The Broken Arrow Police Department in Oklahoma told Newsweek that the first incident occurred at about 5:21 p.m. February 3, 2022, in the 300 block of East Albany Street.

Officers were called to an incident involving a collision between a juvenile and a driver. The 12-year-old male was reportedly sledding on the north side of Albany Street when he entered the roadway and was struck by a white pickup truck.

"The vehicle did not stop and continued westbound on Albany after striking the juvenile," police said in a press release.

The next morning at 8:15 a.m., the victim, who was treated on scene prior to being transported to a local area hospital with life-threatening injuries, was pronounced dead.

Video and witness statements indicate that the truck was a 3/4-ton or 1-ton newer model that has dark windows and extended mirrors.

"We don't know if the driver knew he struck this child or not," Walker told Newsweek.

He said the incident occurred next to a hill near a low-speed, four-lane road where children generally don't slide onto.

Walker explained that the area typically will get 1-3 days' worth of snow for kids to sled and play annually.

"When we do (get snow) people flood areas and we're not a super hilly region," he said.

At 6:04 p.m. February 3, or about 44 minutes after the first juvenile was hit, officers responded to the 2700 block of West Pensacola Street due to a vehicle striking another child who was sledding.

Officers reportedly found that this 12-year-old male had also been sledding and had entered the street, leading to the collision.

"The juvenile was dragged for an unknown distance before the vehicle was able to stop," police said in a statement.

The victim was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries. He is expected to be okay.

It remains unclear what kind of vehicle was involved in the second incident.

Broken Arrow Deputy Police Chief Scott Bennett told Newsweek that no arrests have yet been made and that the investigation remains ongoing.

"The two incidents were wholly unrelated," Bennett said.

The driver of the white pickup truck is a person of interest in the case and police would like to contact that individual, Bennett added.

Walker told Newsweek that individuals have contacted the police department on social media, offering tips to advance the investigation. He said it's quite unusual for two similar incidents to occur on the same day, let alone within an hour of one another.

The area includes plenty of white pickup trucks that match the description of the suspect, he added.

"We're really hoping the owner comes forward," Walker said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Long at (918) 451-8200 ext. 8795, or by email at mlong@brokenarrowok.gov with a reference to case #22-0788. Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact Tulsa Crime Stoppers at (918)-596-9222.