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12-Year-Old Girl Hit, Dragged On Car Hood While Walking To School

MODESTO (CBS13) - A girl watched in horror as a car hit her 12-year-old sister during their walk to school on Wednesday morning.

Police say the 12-year-old girl and her younger sister were crossing the street within the crosswalk when a car drove toward them. The younger girl stepped back, but the 12-year-old kept walking and was hit by the car.

"The victim was hit by the car and projected on the hood of the vehicle," said Officer Scott Nelson.

Clinging for life, the 12-year-old girl remained on the car hood before falling to the pavement about 30 feet away from the crosswalk.

At first witnesses thought the commotion was a fender bender.

"I didn't realize it was more until I saw the body in the street," said one witness.

Rescuers rushed the girl to the hospital where she's expected to recover from her injuries.

"She suffered a concussion and some internal bleeding in her brain, but she survived and will go through some tests," said Nelson.

Police say the woman behind the wheel was a mother on the way to drop off her son at nearby Somerset Middle School -- the same school the two girls attend.

Investigators say it doesn't appear that the driver was speeding.

Neighbors say drivers and pedestrians need to be more aware, and they hope the city steps up traffic safety.

"If they had those blinking lights to show someone does want to cross, that may help," said Joey Zalaco, a mother.

The driver wasn't cited because police are investigating who was at fault.

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