GAINESVILLE, Hall County, Ga., Oct. 8, 2026 — A 22-month-old boy has died after a vehicle left the roadway and struck him and his father outside a store at Limestone Marketplace in Gainesville, GA, on Wednesday, October 7, according to the Gainesville Police Department.
The child was being carried by his father, Samuel Skelton, an off-duty Gainesville firefighter, near the entrance of the Big Peach Running Co. store just before noon when a car came off the roadway and hit them. The kid was flown to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta after first being taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, and he died despite treatment.
The driver, 68-year-old Teresa Parker, was trying to park a 2024 Ford Edge in a handicap space when she accelerated over the curb instead, striking them before the car hit the storefront. The vehicle also struck the building, prompting fire crews and building inspectors to check the structure for damage, GPD spokesperson Kevin Holbrook said earlier Wednesday.
No arrest had been announced as of the department's latest update, and Holbrook said the investigation remains active. Emergency crews, fire personnel, and inspectors remained at the scene for an extended period on Wednesday as the shopping center handled a large emergency response.
GPD said it extended condolences to the Skelton family and to the Gainesville Fire Department following Knox's death.
Our sympathies are with the family of the person who lost their life.
Where Pedestrian Crashes in Parking Lots and Shopping Centers Happen Most
Shopping center lots and storefront walkways are not built like streets, and that is part of the problem. There are no lane markings to guide drivers' attention, pedestrians often walk close to parked cars and building entrances, and drivers are frequently distracted by looking for a space rather than watching for people on foot.
Curb lines and short sidewalks in these lots offer little separation between vehicles and pedestrians. A car that accelerates unintentionally, even at low speed, can cross a curb and reach a storefront entrance in a second or two, leaving pedestrians standing near doors or display windows almost no room to react.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 24 percent of pedestrians killed in traffic crashes were struck by hit-and-run drivers in 2023. While that statistic covers roadway crashes broadly, it points to how often pedestrian deaths involve drivers who did not intend to be where the impact happened, a pattern that also shows up in low-speed parking lot and storefront collisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What injuries are most common in pedestrian crashes?
Pedestrians struck by vehicles often suffer head and brain injuries, broken bones, and internal injuries, even in crashes that happen at low speed, because there is little or nothing to absorb the impact.
What usually causes pedestrian crashes in parking areas?
Common factors include driver distraction, pedal error (mistaking the gas for the brake), limited visibility around parked cars, and pedestrians walking through areas not designed as walkways.
Does vehicle speed affect whether a pedestrian survives?
Yes. Even small increases in speed sharply raise the risk of serious injury or death for a pedestrian, which is why crashes in lots and near building entrances, where speeds are usually low, can still be deadly if the vehicle accelerates unexpectedly.
Where do most pedestrian crashes happen?
Research shows that a large share of crashes occurs away from intersections, including in parking lots, driveways, and other off-roadway areas where drivers and pedestrians share space without clear separation.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Crash in Gainesville, GA
If you witness or are involved in a pedestrian crash, call 911 immediately and avoid moving an injured person unless they are in further danger. Even if injuries seem minor at first, a medical evaluation is important, since some injuries, especially head and internal injuries, are not obvious right away.
Get the names and contact information of any witnesses, and let the police document the scene. Gainesville police and fire personnel are trained to respond quickly to these incidents, but a clear, calm account from bystanders can help investigators piece together what happened. Follow up with your own doctor in the days after, even after being seen at the scene or at a hospital.
