UPDATED: Police Commissioner Hits Eighth Grader With Vehicle

Rye Police Commissioner William Connors struck a Resurrection Middle School eighth grader with his police car shortly before 4 p.m. on Monday afternoon.

Connors was driving a police-issued vehicle when the collision occurred, said Rye Police Lieutenant Joseph Verille.

The victim, 14-year-old Charlie Little, was hit while crossing the street near Rye City Hall, close to the intersection of Boston Post Road and Milton Road.

Authorities said Little was alert and talking with EMS technicians and his mother. He was transported by ambulance to Greenwich Hospital.

A blue backpack and white binder were left at the scene.

Connors, who was still at the scene after Little was transported by ambulance, refused to comment.

The commissioner's car showed damage to the right sideview mirror, which was hanging off the side of the vehicle.

Both Connors and Little were fine after going to the hospital, according to Rye Mayor Doug French, who spoke with the child's mother.

County traffic authorities are investigating whether speed was a factor in the accident.  Kieran O'Leary, a spokesperson for County Police, told Patch Tuesday that a report will likely be issued in two days. He said police are still interviewing witnesses.

"There's still some work that we want to do and a few people we want to speak to," he said.

The accident is the second in Rye this year involving a pedestrian and a moving vehicle. On Jan. 7, Christofer Moreira, a fourth grader at Midland School, was hit by a car on Midland Avenue and Palisades Road, the same intersection where 10-year-old Jarrid Amico was struck and killed by a car while riding his bike in 2006.

Harold Nielsen, the principal of Resurrection School, told Patch Tuesday that students crossing the street are generally safe because the school has a crossing guard on duty in the morning and afternoon on Milton Road, but not at the exact intersection where the accident occurred.

He said the public needs to be more involved with safety issues in the city.

"It's not something the police can do alone. It's not just a police issue or school issue," Nielsen said. 

"It has to start with the public. The rates of speed that people drive on Post Road and Milton Road are much too fast," he said. "With the number of children getting out of school and concentration of children in that area, it's particularly important."

Nielsen said drivers in general need to pay attention to the rules of the road and not get distracted by using cell phones or by texting. He also said children should be extra careful when they are crossing the street.

Pedestrian safety issues have reached a fever pitch in Rye in recent months. The Rye City Council and Board of Education will hold a special joint meeting on Feb. 9 to discuss pedestrian safety issues in the city.

Mayor Doug French told Patch Monday that the accident is another unfortunate incident the city is trying to prevent.

"This is another traumatic event for all involved as well as for our city," French said. "Westchester County is conducting an investigation on the accident and should have a report in a few days.  There are no simple answers and they are called accidents for a reason.  Yet, we will re-dedicate ourselves to pedestrian safety."

"We will begin Tuesday, February 9th in the joint meeting of the City Council and the Board of Education to address the key locations around town where the city, schools and the community need to come together on pedestrian education, traffic enforcement and engineering solutions," he said.