Boy, 1, killed by car in restaurant parking lot

Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2002 | 11:02 a.m.

Henderson Police are investigating the death of a 1-year-old boy who apparently darted across a McDonald's parking lot and into the path of a vehicle Tuesday afternoon.

The accident happened about 2 p.m. at the restaurant at 65 S. Valle Verde Drive, Sgt. David McKenna said.

"It looks like the child, the mother, and a young friend were outside the restaurant and the mother went across the parking lot to talk to someone inside a car," McKenna said. "Unfortunately, the child darted out to follow his mother and was hit by a car making its way through the lot."

Alex Jenkins was taken to St. Rose Dominican Hospital's Siena campus in Henderson, but emergency room crews were unable to revive him.

"It's just one of those sad things that can happen in that second that a child is not being watched," McKenna said.

Workers at the McDonald's said the mother, 18, her younger sister and Alex had finished eating lunch and had just left the restaurant when the accident happened.

After the accident, the mother carried the boy into the McDonald's, assistant manager Billy Wagoner said.

"We dialed 911 and she laid him down on the ground," he said.

Henderson Police traffic investigators are asking anyone who saw the accident to contact the Henderson Police Department's Traffic Unit at 616-8390 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.