Vehicle hits girl

ALBANY, Ga. — A child was hit by a Ford Explorer at about 5:25 p.m. Wednesday and suffered minor injuries, according to Albany Police Department sources.

“The 4-year-old female was crossing the street with her mother. She walked in front of her mother and was struck by a truck,” APD spokeswoman Phyllis Banks said. “She was transported to the hospital for treatment for a minor head injury. She’s going to be fine.”

No charges were filed against the driver, Cedric McClendon, 24, Banks said, probably because the child ran in front of his SUV.

The crash on the 400 block of Bonny View Avenue just west of Church Street brought residents out on the streets by the dozens. Many blamed the lack of signs designating the area as a “Watch for Children” area.

Mothers with children at their sides said they believed that neighborhoods in West Albany have more pull with the Albany City Commissioners.

“There are no signs to watch out for children here,” said Cassandra Whitehead, a mother of five ranging in age from infancy to teen. “They have signs in West Albany. This is a black neighborhood, that’s why we don’t.”

Charlotte Mays, a mother of three, said that cars don’t slow down as they come around a curve one block east at Oak Street.

“If we had the signs up, they’d slow down,” Mays said. “They can’t see around that curve.”