The 9-year-old boy who was hit by a car Tuesday morning is in the intensive care unit at UF Health Shands Hospital for observation, according to the Wildwood Police Department.

  • Boy was in the street trying to get a ball when hit
  • Driver was upset at the scene, police said

The boy, whose name has not been released, was at a bus stop along Cleveland Avenue and Pleasentdale Drive in Wildwood early Tuesday morning when he ran into the street to retrieve a ball, Lt. Russell Poitevent told News 13.

The boy was struck by a 2008 Dodge Charger as he was trying to make his way back to the bus stop, said Poitevent, adding that the car was westbound on Cleveland Avenue.

At about 7:13 a.m., Sumter County Fire & EMS arrived at the scene to find the child 40 feet from the vehicle with severe injuries, stated Battalion Chief Rick Pitts in a news release.

Despite some media reports, Poitevent said the driver, 26-year-old David Cropper, did not leave the scene of the accident, but stayed behind to offer help.

“He was visibly upset,” Poitevent said of the driver.

The boy was flown by helicopter from the scene to the hospital, where he is now.

No other additional details could be given since this is an ongoing investigation, said Poitevent.