Family mourns after child struck, killed by SUV at Cary mobile home park
CARY, N.C. (WTVD) -- Cary police are investigating after a 9-year-old boy was struck and killed by a vehicle while riding a bike at Poplar Street and Maple Avenue Tuesday evening.
Police were called to the Chatham Estates mobile home park at 7:15 p.m.
The boy, later identified as Paul Pham Dang, was taken to WakeMed where he died.
The boy, his father, and three others were crossing Maple Avenue when the third grader at Mills Park Elementary was struck by a black Mazda Crossover turning in.
"There were some other kids that he was with and his dad was actually behind him," said Cary Police Lt. Marcus Pearson. "The car that hit him was coming inbound on Maple Avenue from Maynard and struck him."
The boy's father and three other children with them weren't injured.
Emergency calls of the incident were released Wednesday afternoon:
Caller: "I just hit a kid on a bicycle and I need for you to come with an ambulance. I ran over him. He just like came out of nowhere.
The boy's parents were seen distraught Wednesday morning at a makeshift memorial where the boy was hit.
Dang's mother was especially overcome with grief, lying down at the memorial at one point.
"He go to school, and he quiet, he don't talk a lot,(sic)" Jenny Dang said.
Dang's father said the driver was speeding while talking on a cell phone. ABC11 is still waiting on the police report of the incident.
Police did tell ABC11 that they've talked to the driver, but won't say whether charges are pending or if speed was a factor. Neighbors said cars often speed through the area.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and just as a reminder to drivers that the warmer weather and with more kids out just to be aware of what's going on around them," said Pearson.
Meanwhile, counselors were at Mills Park Elementary Wednesday as the school learned about Dang's death.
