A 12-year-old boy is recovering in stable condition after being struck by a hit-and-run driver while legally crossing a Garland intersection Saturday morning, and police are now appealing to the public for help identifying the vehicle and its driver.
The incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. at the intersection of North Garland Avenue and Apollo Road. The boy was in a designated crosswalk with his electric scooter when a white utility-style work truck struck him before fleeing the scene.
Garland Police Department confirmed the child sustained significant injuries despite his current stable condition. The severity of those injuries underscores the urgency of the department’s push to locate the responsible driver.
Investigators described the truck as a four-door white utility or work-style vehicle equipped with storage compartments running along the exterior sides of the truck bed. The suspect driver is believed to be a heavyset man with a short buzz-cut hairstyle.
Surveillance and witness accounts indicate the driver briefly stopped at the scene after the collision before making the decision to leave. The truck was then seen heading southbound on North Garland Avenue after having originally traveled eastbound on Apollo Road before turning onto that street.
Garland police are urging the driver to come forward voluntarily. Investigators say they want to hear the driver’s account of what happened and are giving that individual the opportunity to provide their perspective before the investigation moves further.
Authorities are also reaching out to anyone who may have been driving in the surrounding area at the time of the crash. Dashcam footage from nearby vehicles could prove critical in piecing together the truck’s route and identifying the driver.
Witnesses who saw the truck near the intersection before or after the crash are encouraged to reach out to the Garland Police Department as soon as possible. Even a brief glimpse of the vehicle or a partial description of the driver could help investigators make a significant breakthrough.
The crash has raised fresh concerns about pedestrian and crosswalk safety in the area. A child using a designated crossing in broad daylight was struck and left behind by a driver who made a conscious choice to flee rather than render aid or contact emergency services.
Garland police stressed that no detail is too small when it comes to tips in this case. Community members with any information related to the white work truck or the individual behind the wheel are asked to contact the Garland Police Department directly and reference this investigation.
