A 7-year-old boy died Monday afternoon after he was struck by a car while riding his bicycle with three friends near the intersection of East Cherry Street and Highway 182.
Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant said Malik Wallace was riding downhill on East Cherry Street but was unable to stop as he entered the intersection at Highway 182. Wallace was struck around 5:30 p.m. by the female driver of a small sports utility vehicle traveling westbound on 182.
“He put his feet down to try to stop,” Merchant said. “Apparently the bicycle did not have any brakes.”
Merchant said there was evidence on the scene that the driver attempted to swerve to avoid hitting Wallace. The driver did stop, and no citations were issued. Mississippi Highway Patrol has not yet released the name of the driver.
Dr. Edna McGill, assistant superintendent of the Lowndes County School District, said Wallace was a student at New Hope Elementary School.
“It”s such a tragic thing,” McGill said. “Our prayers and sympathy goes out to the family and friends of Malik.”
Funeral arrangements will be handled by Lee-Sykes Funeral Home.
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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