8-year-old hit by vehicle near Marsh Elementary School

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. – An 8-year-old girl was seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle near Marsh Elementary School Thursday.

According to Michigan City Police, officers responded to the incident at the intersection of Oak and Belden Street around 4:49 p.m.

Officers report a blue 2014 Ford Fusion, driven by an unlicensed 16-year-old, was traveling northbound on Oak Street when it struck the girl crossing the roadway.

The girl was taken to St. Anthony Hospital for treatment of serious bodily injuries then airlifted to a regional trauma center where she is listed in stable condition.

The mother of the unlicensed teen, 41-year-old Graciela Chavez-Melendez, was allegedly in the vehicle at the time of the crash.

Both the teen and Chavez-Melendez were arrested at the scene.

Police say the teen is facing a charge of operating without a license while his mother faces charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The city reminds drivers to use extreme caution while driving through a school zone as this is the second documented incident involving a child near a playground within two months.

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