Hit and Run Leaves 3 Year-Old in Hospital

The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating a hit and run crash in Bradley County last night at 2180 Old Harrison Pike NW in Cleveland.

Lisa Ramos says her three year old cousin Kevin Lopez was chasing a ball and before she could react a truck came racing down Old Harrison Road and hit him.

"I guess the car didn't see the kid and the kid didn't see the car and he passed the street, I thought he made it but he didn't," says Ramos.

Just when she thought the driver would stop the truck kept going dragging her three year old cousin underneath.

"He didn't stop completely but he kind of slowed down so the kid could get from under the car and kept going," says Ramos.

Soon after the family called 9-1-1 Bradley County Sheriffs Department, Emergency Services and Tennessee Highway Patrol arrived on the scene. Medics took Kevin to the hospital with serious head trauma. Ramos says the person was driving a white pick-up truck..but says that's all she saw because it was going too fast.

"Hopefully they'll get him cuz there has to be justice cuz it was a hit and run," says Ramos.

A spokesperson for the Bradley County Sheriff's Office says drivers on Old Harrison Pike are only supposed to go 45 miles per hour. Investigators with the Tennessee Highway Patrol says, in this case, a driver would not have to be going that fast, in order to cause the injuries sustained by the little boy, and the damage caused to the truck.

Another neighbor who saw the accident says its normal for children to play in the streets because there aren't any playgrounds.

"We try to watch out for them but some trucks, vehicles not in the area they don't watch out for the kids. This is probably a time where someone from the community didn't stop for the kids," says one neighbor.

The vehicle is described as Chevy or GMC pick up with tinted windows, it will be white with about a 2" wide red stripe and a 2" wide yellow stripe down the sides.  Investigators say there will be damage to the driver's side headlight and turn signal area, and possibly to the grill. Police have no description on the driver of the vehicle.

If you have any information, please contact the Tennesse Highway Patrol at 423-634-6898