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Children Under 10 Drive Family Car That Struck Woman in Oakland Crosswalk

Police seek public video to determine how the children accessed the vehicle.

Overview

  • A woman in her 30s was critically injured after a northbound Toyota Camry sideswiped another car, lost control and struck her in a marked crosswalk at 35th and Mangels before crashing into a front-yard fence.
  • Oakland officers said the vehicle was driven by a juvenile under 10 with another child passenger under 10 and both children were hospitalized in stable condition after bystanders and medics rendered aid.
  • Family members and local outlets identified the victim as Kiara Darvonne and said she suffered severe injuries including facial fractures, a brain bleed and internal bleeding and remains in critical condition.
  • Surveillance video and witness accounts show the sedan clipping an oncoming vehicle moments before the pedestrian impact, and investigators have interviewed cooperating parents but have not yet determined how the children gained access to the car or whether impairment was involved.
  • Legal and child-development experts interviewed by reporters say criminal prosecution of the children is unlikely given their ages, so scrutiny is expected to focus on parental supervision, possible civil claims, insurance coverage and involvement by child-welfare authorities.