ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A 10-year-old boy is being treated for minor injuries after a car hit him while he was riding his bike in St. Petersburg, police said.
St. Pete police said it happened around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday near the intersection of 52nd Avenue North and 17th Street North.
Officers said the 10-year-old was riding his bike when a car — possibly a white Chevy Cruze — hit him. According to police, the driver stopped "momentarily" before speeding away.
Tuesday evening, 10-year-old Billy Quackenbush and his father, Lyman Quackenbush, sat down exclusively with 10 Tampa Bay.
"I just screamed," Billy said, recalling the initial moments after he was hit. "People started coming out to help me; My mom ran out to help me."
Billy attends Sexton Elementary School, which is less than half a mile from his home. He rides his bike to school most days. On Tuesday morning, however, he made it less than a hundred yards from his back door before he pedaled into the roadway and was hit by an oncoming car.
"The worst runs through your head immediately," Lyman Quackenbush said. "So I was very relieved that he was awake and talking and everything."
Billy was taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries, including loose teeth and severe bruising.
Billy says it's likely he'll recover physically before he does emotionally.
"I don't think I'm going to ride my bike to school for a while," said Billy, citing fear of riding on the road where he was struck.
Meanwhile, as police continue to search for the driver, the 10-year-old wants to remind that person of a lesson we all learned in elementary school: treat people how you'd want to be treated.
"Don't drive off, help. Tell them it was an accident and you didn't mean it and you're going to try to help them the best you can," Billy said. "That's what you should do when these types of things happen. Don't drive off and let them get even more hurt than they already are. Just make sure you help out when someone is in need."
Anyone with information about the crash, where the car involved might be or who the driver was is asked to contact the St. Petersburg Police Department at 727-893-7780.