Arrest made in hit-and-run of 10-year-old killed riding bike

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. — A woman has been arrested after deputies say she was involved in a hit-and-run that killed a 10-year-old boy riding his bike.

Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett announced his office arrested the driver on Tuesday. Her name and photo have not been released by the sheriff’s office.

“I think she owes the family an explanation,” the sheriff said. “There’s no excuse that I can think of anybody striking a human being and leaving.”

The hit-and-run happened Monday evening off Ebenezer Road and Cherry Hill Lane. A memorial has been set up with flowers and pictures for the 10-year-old at the intersection.

The family did not want to release his name. The sheriff said the 10-year-old was riding his bike when the woman hit him from behind. The boy died at the scene.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Huge lines outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium on 1st day of mass vaccination site
• Crime Stoppers: FBI on the hunt for serial Dollar General store robber in Georgia
• QUICK LINKS: Here’s where you can get COVID-19 vaccines around metro Atlanta

A 12-year-old friend who was with him identified the make and model of the car as a Toyota Camry. Deputies used Flock safety cameras to help solve the case.

During a news conference Wednesday morning, the boy’s grandfather shared more about his grandson and his impact on the community.

“Everyone who met him totally liked him. They had just been in that community maybe 30 days and he started back going to school two days a week,” Bruce McNair said. “To give you an indication of his personality, the bus driver came to my daughter’s house. He had been on that bus a couple days and she wanted to give her condolences to the family. In the position that she’s in, she said you can tell the good ones and he was a good one.”

The grandfather says more could be done in the area to prevent future incidents like this.

“More lighting, more sidewalk area for the people who may not have a vehicle to access the places of business in that area,” he said.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]