NEWS

Vehicle strikes bike, child jumps at last moment, Palm Bay police report

J.D. Gallop
FLORIDA TODAY
A Palm Bay boy avoided being struck by a car while on his bicycle Tuesday. His bicycle was crushed under the vehicle.
A Palm Bay boy avoided being struck by a car while on his bicycle Tuesday. His bicycle was crushed under the vehicle.

An 8-year-old riding to school managed to escape serious injury after dodging a car in an early Tuesday accident that left his bike lodged beneath the turning vehicle, Palm Bay police report.

The incident happened about 7:30 a.m. at the intersection of Emerson Drive and Lamplighter Drive, a short distance from Discovery Elementary School in the northwest section of the city. Police said the boy was riding along Emerson heading to school when the collision happened.

“He thought he got the nod from the driver to keep going. But The car turned and the kid acted quickly to jump off. He was not hurt but the bicycle was lodged beneath the vehicle,” said Lt. Mike Bandish, spokesman for the Palm Bay Police Department.

“The kid definitely was able to respond quickly,” Bandish said. No charges were filed and the driver of the vehicle was uninjured.

An investigation is underway.

Contact Gallop at 321-242-3642, jdgallop@floridatoday.com and Twitter at @JDGallop