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FORT LAUDERDALE, Broward County, Fla., Sept. 22, 2026 — An 8-year-old boy was hit by a car Saturday afternoon, September 19, in Fort Lauderdale and taken to a hospital as a trauma alert, Fort Lauderdale police said.
The crash happened in the 500 block of Southwest 27th Avenue, according to police. Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue medics took the boy to Broward Health Medical Center for treatment.
Detectives said the boy lives on the same block and was trying to cross the street to reach a nearby convenience store when he was struck.
Northbound and southbound lanes of Southwest 27th Avenue in the 500 block were closed while officers worked the scene.
Authorities continue reviewing the collision. We wish the injured a speedy recovery.
Why Pedestrian Crashes Turn Serious at Intersections and Crosswalks
The damage in a pedestrian crash comes down to a mismatch in size and speed. A car can weigh over 4,000 pounds; a pedestrian, especially a child, weighs a fraction of that. When the two meet, the vehicle barely slows, and nearly all of the force transfers to the smaller body in the collision.
Speed at the moment of impact matters more than almost anything else. A vehicle traveling at a lower speed gives a driver more time to see someone stepping off a curb and more distance to stop. Intersections and crosswalks concentrate this risk because they are the points where pedestrian paths and vehicle paths cross by design. Sightlines can be blocked by parked cars, turning vehicles are watching for gaps in traffic rather than people on foot, and a driver's attention is often split between multiple directions at once.
Vehicles are not built with pedestrians in mind the way they are built for occupants. Bumpers, hoods, and windshields are engineered around cargo and crash structures for the people inside, not to cushion an impact with someone outside the car. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 7,314 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the right of way at a crosswalk?
In Florida, pedestrians in a marked or unmarked crosswalk generally have the right of way, and drivers are required to stop or yield to let them cross safely.
How can drivers reduce the risk of hitting a pedestrian?
Slowing down near intersections, scanning both sides of the road before turning, and avoiding distractions like phones give drivers more time to spot someone crossing and react.
What injuries are most common in pedestrian accidents?
Head injuries, broken bones, and internal injuries are common, since a pedestrian has no structure around them to absorb the impact the way a vehicle occupant does.
What are the most common causes of pedestrian accidents?
Distracted driving, failure to yield at crosswalks, speeding, and low visibility are frequently cited factors in pedestrian crashes.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Anyone involved in or witnessing a pedestrian crash should call 911 right away so responders can evaluate the injured person on scene. Even when injuries seem minor, a full medical exam is worth getting, since some injuries, especially to the head, don't show symptoms immediately.
Staying at the scene until police arrive helps ensure an accurate report gets filed. If you saw what happened, sharing your contact information with officers can help investigators piece together the sequence of events. Parents and caregivers in the area may also want to talk with children about safe street-crossing habits, particularly near driveways and mid-block crossings where drivers may not expect pedestrians.
