POLICE: Trucker stopped & checked with group of parents in moments before fatal incident with 7-year-old

A truck driver stopped to warn a group of parents that he was about to drive through the area in the moments before a fatal incident with a seven-year-old, police say. 

The accident happened at about 8 p.m. near the intersection of Cottondale Avenue and Lindale Avenue in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 

According to The Advocate, the truck driver was heading east on Lindale Avenue when he stopped and leaned out of his window to warn a group of parents that was about to drive through the area, and to make sure “the kids were out of the roadway.” The parents then told the driver that “they had the kids.” 

The truck driver then turned right onto Cottondale Drive and unknowingly struck 7-year-old Saleiman Hamideh on his bike. The truck driver continued driving and eventually parked near Delcourt Avenue. 

“It is believed that due to the truck starting again from a full stop, it may have experienced shaking due to having a fully loaded down trailer. This would have potentially made it difficult to feel any disturbance from the impact with the child,” police said. 

After the incident, officers were able to locate the truck driver and he returned to the scene. Surveillance video and witness statements both confirmed that the driver had stopped to speak with the group of parents before the incident and that they gave the driver the okay to drive through. 

The semi truck was moving between 7 and 12 mph at the time of the accident. Police do not suspect impairment, but did perform a blood draw on the driver at the time of the initial investigation. Police say they do not expect an arrest for the incident.