A 16-year-old was hospitalized in critical condition after he was struck by a car while riding a scooter in Cooper City early Monday morning.
According to Broward County Fire Rescue, a call was received shortly after 8 a.m. about a vehicle that had struck a scooter in the 9400 block of Stirling Road, near Cooper City High School.
Video captured by Chopper 6 showed the scooter and teen's helmet on the ground next to the sidewalk, with a pool of blood and notebooks scattered on the street.
A red Tesla with significant damage to passenger side of the front windshield could also be seen stopped in a designated school zone area where the speed limit is 15 mph.
Get South Florida local news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters.
Broward Sheriff's Office officials said it appeared the scooter rider was struck by the Tesla, which stayed at the scene.
According to detectives, theTesla was traveling eastbound on Stirling Road when the teen, on a standup electric scooter, entered the roadway and began to cross Stirling Road northbound diagonally.
Local
The teen, who wasn't in a designated crosswalk, rode into the path of the Tesla and was struck.
The teen driving the scooter was transported to Memorial Regional Hospital in very critical condition, officials said.
The teen's identity hasn't been released but school officials confirmed he is a student at Cooper City High.
Hello Cooper City High School Families,
"While I cannot share specific details, I want you to know we remain in close communication with the student’s family and will do everything we can to provide support during this difficult time," the school's principal said in a message to students and paremts. "Please join me in keeping our student and the student’s family in your thoughts and prayers. I also want to make you aware that we have counselors available on campus, should any of our students need assistance regarding this accident."
Parent Vanessa Ruiz had just dropped her child off at the school when she said she witnessed the incident.
"I just saw the accident, I saw him land on the floor," Ruiz said. "I saw the kid in a fetal position and just tons of blood running down the street."
The east and westbound lanes of Stirling Road in Cooper City have been shut down between Palm Avenue and Southwest 90th Avenue due to the crash.
Drivers were urged to find an alternate route.
Officials said a 40-year-old woman was driving the Tesla, and it appears execessive speed and impairment were not involved.
This is a developing story. Check back with NBC6 for updates.
