Toddler in critical condition after being struck by car

A 2-year-old Lodi boy remained hospitalized Friday night with life-threatening injuries after he was struck and thrown 70 feet by a vehicle the previous night.

The boy apparently ran in front of a westbound Dodge Viper at 7:45 p.m. Thursday after slipping out of his home in the 400 block of East Lodi Avenue, Lodi police said.

An ambulance rushed the boy to Lodi Memorial Hospital, where he was stabilized and then flown by medical helicopter to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. He was listed in critical condition Friday night.

The accident remains under investigation, and police do not believe alcohol was involved, said Lt. Chris Piombo.

The driver of the Viper, Lodi resident Sergio Hernandez, 33, stopped and cooperated with police, who did not initially believe he was speeding. He was not cited and investigators believe the child ran in front of Hernandez' vehicle before he had time to stop.

The child's uncle had stopped by the family's home to visit, then left and took his 7-year-old nephew with him, said Detective Nick Rafiq, who is a member of the Major Accident Investigation Team and also helped translate for the family.

When the uncle and nephew left the home, they didn't realize that the toddler had slipped out the door and followed, Rafiq said. The home is close to the road, so in mere seconds, the child had made it to the road.

Family members found out what happened when they heard a noise in the road, Rafiq said, adding there was no sign of any neglect.

Contact reporter Layla Bohm at layla@lodinews.com.

First published: Saturday, June 3, 2006