Tulsa Police says 7-year-old child died after being hit by car

Tulsa Police are investigating after they say a driver hit and killed a child Wednesday evening near 21st and Memorial.

21st Street is back open Wednesday night after police collected evidence, took measurements, and talked to witnesses.

Neighbors say they're holding their kids a little tighter now.

Jasiman Blake was at home with her son, Tyler, when she heard the police sirens just feet from her home.

"I just think about the families and how they could feel, and the driver and how he feels. I'm sure that's just tough for everybody involved," she said.

Police say a seven-year-old boy, along with several other children, was crossing 21st Street around 5 p.m. They say traffic in the eastbound inside lane saw the children and stopped to allow them to pass. Police say another driver behind them changed lanes to avoid the stopped traffic and hit the seven-year-old. The driver of the vehicle stopped and is cooperating with police.

"The collision occurred, like I said, here on 21st Street during rush hour traffic, and my understanding is that it did not occur in a crosswalk area," said Sgt. Julie Hopper.

Blake says it's scary seeing this happen so close to home because her son walks home from school every day.

"It's terrifying," she said. "I remind [my son] he has to walk home from school, and it's just right there, and I have him, I track him on my phone and stuff, but it's still scary, and I make sure that he crosses on this where he's supposed to, and it's just I'm not with him, so I have to just trust that he's going to do what he's supposed to."

Hopper says drivers need to always watch for children crossing the street, especially near schools.

"I would say, on behalf of the drivers, you know, be cognizant of school times, the school gets let out, after school care, knowing when you're kind of around a school area, when children might be crossing the road. And on the advice for some parents and kids, you know, utilize crosswalks and crossing guards whenever they're available to assist."

Police will send their findings to the D.A.’s office, which will decide if any charges should be filed.