Three children and a woman were hospitalized Thursday morning after being struck by a car in a marked crosswalk near Eisenhut Elementary School in Modesto, California. The crash happened around 7:45 a.m. at the intersection of Janet and Sheldon drives as the group was walking to school. The impact left the woman trapped beneath the vehicle until a nearby resident used a floor jack to lift the car and free her. Two of the children were flown by air ambulance to a specialty hospital, while the woman and the third child were taken to a local hospital; all four are reported to be in stable condition.
According to CBS Sacramento, the driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators, and a preliminary review of video shows the vehicle was not traveling at an excessive speed. Modesto police said fault in the crash has not yet been determined and asked the public for any video footage of the collision. The outlet reported that officers increased patrols around the school and asked families to avoid Sheldon Drive while the Traffic Unit’s investigation continues. Eisenhut Elementary was not placed on lockdown, and district officials said counselors were made available to support students and staff.