Lincoln youth struck by car life-flighted to Peoria hospital

[May 18, 2009]  On Saturday at approximately 10:11 a.m., a 9-year-old Lincoln boy was riding a bicycle eastbound in the alley between Pekin Street and Delavan Street. As the cyclist was crossing Butler Street, he was struck by a northbound vehicle. The impact threw the cyclist forward and he landed in the street.

Witnesses indicated that the cyclist was "pedaling really fast." The cyclist crossed into the street without stopping or looking for oncoming vehicles. The vehicle driver did not see the cyclist due to a small house located on the alley. When the driver did see the cyclist, he slammed on his brakes, but could not avoid the collision.

The victim was taken to Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital and then airlifted to St. Francis Hospital in Peoria.

The Lincoln Police Department is investigating the accident and has asked for assistance from the Illinois State Police Accident Reconstruction Unit.

[Text from file received from the Lincoln Police Department]