A seven-year-old boy named Keyaan Smalls was struck by an SUV while fetching the mail from his home in Jacksonville’s Westside, leaving his family in search of the driver responsible for the hit-and-run incident.
According to reports, the impact from the black SUV knocked young Keyaan Smalls into a ditch, rendering him unconscious. Immediate medical attention was required, and he was rushed to the hospital, where he is now recovering and expected to be okay.
Keyaan’s mother, Keri Philk, recounted the traumatic experience as the most severe panic she has ever endured. She was informed of the situation by Keyaan’s uncle, Ronald Bell, who had heard the crash and found Keyaan lying injured in the ditch. ‘He had black marks from what looks like the tire all up his leg,’ Philk said, describing his injuries which include road rash on his shin, ear, and ribs. Despite Keyaan’s initial inability to move his leg, he is now under constant care.
In a statement, Keyaan mentioned, ‘They swerved into the grass, and then they hit me, then I flew to the ditch,’ clearly illustrating the severity of the incident he endured while doing something as simple as collecting the mail.
This is not an isolated incident for the family as Keyaan’s sibling was also hit along the same road in the past. This repeated danger has led Philk to advocate for increased safety measures in the area, such as more frequent patrols, cameras, speed bumps, and a reduced speed limit, to ensure the safety of children commuting to and from school.
While the ordeal has been distressing, Philk expressed relief over her son’s survival, emphasizing, ‘We’re just happy he’s alive.’
The incident has sparked urgent calls for improved road safety on Jacksonville’s Westside, highlighting the need for protective measures to prevent further accidents like the one that injured Keyaan Smalls.
Source: News4jax
