Indianapolis, IN (August 5, 2026) – A 6-year-old boy was injured on Monday, August 3, after he rode his scooter off the Monon Trail and was struck by a car crossing East 46th Street, according to video of the crash. It happened just before 10:30 a.m., where the trail crosses the street. Neither the boy nor the driver appeared to stop at the crosswalk.
The boy was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The driver stayed at the scene and was reportedly going 15-20 mph, below the posted 35 mph limit.
Central Indiana Cycling Executive Director Anthony Cherolis said the boy was fortunate the driver was going slowly and driving a sedan rather than a larger vehicle.
We hope the boy has a full recovery.
Why Are Trail Crossings Over Busy Streets Considered High-Risk Areas?
A trail crossing asks both drivers and trail users to anticipate one another at a spot that isn’t always as visually obvious as a standard street intersection. Drivers moving along a road may be focused on traffic ahead rather than watching for someone crossing from a trail off to the side.
Speed on the trail side adds another layer of risk, since a bike or scooter can cover the distance from the trail to the road much faster than someone walking would. This can shrink the window a driver has to notice and react once a rider enters the roadway.
Vehicle size and speed both affect outcomes significantly in these crashes. Lower speeds and smaller vehicles tend to result in less severe injuries, since a struck person is more likely to be thrown clear rather than pulled underneath, which is part of why speed limits near known crossings are considered especially important.
