Ahwahnee Middle School student in critical condition after being hit by a car

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- At Bullard and Bond in Northeast Fresno, four busy lanes of traffic stand between students and Ahwahnee Middle School.

Michael Manter, who lives nearby, said, "There are a lot of students that come through, cross the street, walk down the street."

Manter said he walked out of his home Tuesday morning right after a Land Rover hit one of those students. The boy was on the ground, separated from his shoes.

"I was just hoping the kid was okay. I figured it was a kid because it was early in the morning."

Lieutenant Mark Hudson said the boy is 14-- he is alive but in critical condition.

"It's avoidable, it's horrible, I'm sure the parents, and the relatives of this young man are just devastated."

Hudson said it was an avoidable accident because the teen did not use a crosswalk and he ran into the street from the cover of bushes and large trees, giving the driver no time to stop.

"These things don't have to happen, when people just take a little bit of time, get down to the crosswalk and cross where it's safe."

At this point Lt. Hudson said the driver is not facing any charges. He turned around, stopped at the scene, and he is cooperating with police. He did not appear to be under the influence of any drugs or alcohol.

We also talked with school officials and they are getting the word out and giving students safety information because of what happened.