A 9-year-old boy is in critical condition after a sledding accident Tuesday night.
North Ridgeville police say 9-year-old Drew Hayden was sledding early Tuesday evening when he slid into the street and was struck by driver 44-year-old Chris Nagel.
It happened around 5 p.m. on Meadow Lakes Blvd. Police said Nagel was driving southbound with his teenage son in the car.
Police told newsnet5.com that the investigation is ongoing but it does not appear that the driver was speeding.
“I feel bad for that driver, regardless if the kid’s okay or not,” said neighbor Angela Fowl. “I mean you couldn’t live with that feeling it would be terrible.”
Hayden was transported to St. John West Shore Hospital by the North Ridgeville Fire Department, and then taken by Life Flight to MetroHealth Medical Center.
A MetroHealth spokesperson told newsnet5.com that the boy remains in critical condition as of 5 p.m. Wednesday evening. His family is asking for prayers.
According to Ohio Revised Code, “no owner, lessee or occupant of premises owes any duty to a recreational user to keep the premises safe for entry or us.”
Section 1533 also states that the homeowner is not responsible for any injuries incurred by sledders on the property.
Some neighbors said the responsibility resides with the parents of sledders.
“I don’t know why anyone would sled there — it’s right by a main road,” neighbor Jinean Najjar said.
But others argued that the incident was an unavoidable accident.
“It’s absolutely not the parents' fault,” Fowl said. “They got that kid out here as quick as they possibly can so I hope for the best and I pray that he’ll be okay.”
North Ridgeville City Schools Superintendent Jim Powell told newsnet5.com that Hayden is not enrolled in their school system.
No charges have been filed in this case.
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