KENOCKEE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WXYZ) — We are following heartbreaking news in St Clair County. Two boys having fun on a go-cart pulled into the path of a driver on a country road in Kenockee Township.
Now the St. Clair County Sheriff says a 13-year-old boy is dead and a 10-year-old boy is in critical condition, fighting for his life.
It happened just after eight on Thursday night. The driver of a vehicle was going westbound on Beard Road, which does not have a stop sign. As the driver came to the intersection of Fargo Road the go-cart drove past a stop sign.
Joe Sopha lives near the intersection. As he and his wife drove home they came upon the accident scene just after it happened.
“When we came back through, two boys crunched down in a go-kart, unconscious. Having a very hard time breathing. They were both alive at that time,” said Sopha as he described what he saw.
Sopha says the driver who crashed into the go-cart carrying the 10-year-old and 13-year-old boys immediately pulled over. First responders went to work rushing both children, who are related, but not siblings, to the hospital.
“The lady was of course crying and very emotional,” said Sopha of the woman who crashed into the children.
“It was a Kenockee Township resident. Alcohol and speed are not a factor,” said Tim Donnellon, the Saint Clair County Sheriff of the driver.
Sheriff Donnellon says it is not legal for children to drive go-carts on the road.
“It is a tragedy on a lot of levels for a lot of people. Our heart goes out for the family of the two boys, as well as the driver of the automobile and the first responders who had to respond,” he said.
Sopha says it is was a hard scene to see. He can’t stop thinking about how he could have been the driver passing by as the children pulled onto Beard Road. He can’t stop thinking about the family of the two boys.
“I am a grandpa. It could have been my grandkids. We live a different life out here than you do in the city. That definitely could have been one of my grand babies,” he said.
