Juniper Ammons Pollock Pines Car Accident: Four school kids injured after being struck by van in Pollock Pines.
The California Highway Patrol said that a man driving a van struck five children at a crosswalk in Pollock Pines on Wednesday. Four of the children were airlifted to hospitals, while one was transferred by ground.
Around 10:42 a.m., the collision occurred at the clearly marked crosswalk on Pony Express Trail close to Oak Street, according to CHP. At the crosswalk, there are neither stoplights nor stop signs.
The Ford E-150’s 21-year-old driver remained at the site and is cooperating, according to CHP. At this point, there is no indication that the crash may have been caused by alcohol, drugs, or driving too fast.
Investigators are attempting to determine whether distracted driving contributed to the collision, according to CHP’s Andrew Burnett. The implicated vehicle, according to him, was an appliance maintenance van.
“Five children were taken to nearby hospitals, with a couple of them being airlifted there. My niece was one of them. Juniper was airlifted to the hospital and is on the pediatric ICU. She has significant head trauma and has been intubated and placed on a ventilator,” family of 4-year-old Juniper said.