Somerville boy hurt in hit-and-run

SOMERVILLE, Mass. — Somerville police are searching for the driver who hit a nine-year-old boy who was walking his dog Tuesday morning.

Tyjon Jones told Boston 25 News he was walking the beloved family dog, Snuggles, near home before school, shortly before 8 a.m.

He was at the intersection of Broadway and Walnut Street, when the vehicle struck him and left him on the ground, the boy said. The fourth-grader said he had the right of way and was walking in the crosswalk when he was hit.

“I’m pretty shocked. Pretty shocked and mad,” Tyjon said of the driver leaving him on the road. “When I got hit, Snuggles got scared and ran away.”

Bystanders rushed to help Tyjon, as others tried to track down Snuggles.

Tyjon was taken by ambulance to the hospital for and evaluation. No broken bones or serious injuries were found.

“Thank god,” Tyjon’s mother, Angela Pitts, said. “He is a little sore. But they did a CAT scan and everything, and he’s OK, by the grace of God.”

Meanwhile, Snuggles was on the run for hours. But after Tyjon’s sister posted on Facebook, asking for the community to help find her, a neighbor finally did. Snuggles returned home, her paws sore and bleeding, but otherwise okay.

“The thought of her not ever coming back home, it really hurt,” an emotional Pitts said. “It hurt my whole family.”

A spokesperson for the city told Boston 25 News the police are searching for a gold-colored car that is believed to be involved and was traveling east on Broadway.

Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Teves at 617-625-1600 x 7248 or the Station Officer at x7254 or x7250.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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