10-year-old Nico Petrecca Jr. was riding his skateboard near his Lawrenceville home Saturday February 22 when he was hit by a minivan.
According to police, Nico was riding his skateboard down Duke Drive when he lost control coming down the hill. He flew into the air, before landing on the ground, and was subsequently run over by an oncoming vehicle.
The driver stopped at the scene but reportedly doesn’t speak English. According to family members, no one witnessed the accident. The driver only told Nico’s stepfather that the “child fell” and omitted the fact that she had hit him with the car. The family believed Nico was injured falling off the skateboard.
Soon after, his family realized the injuries were serious when Nico’s face began to swell. His parents took him to Northside Hospital Gwinnett. Nico was flown by helicopter to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston where he remains in a medically induced coma for brain injuries.
While this was happening, a neighbor called the family to report that his surveillance cameras recorded video of Nico being “run over” by the woman’s car at the intersection of Duke Drive and Herbert Hayes Drive.
According to Lawrenceville police, the investigation is ongoing. For reasons unknown, detectives haven’t yet determined if the driver will face charges.
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