Girl, 14, Hit By Car Near Tinley's Grissom Middle School: Police

TINLEY PARK, IL — A 14-year-old girl was struck by a car while crossing the street with a group of friends Wednesday afternoon, Tinley Park Police confirmed Thursday morning.

Police said the girl was standing on a road median in the area of 169th Street and 80th Avenue, adjacent to Grissom Middle School, around 1:30 p.m. when she crossed into the roadway. A passing car hit the girl, according to Deputy Police Chief Lawrence Rafferty.

The girl suffered a broken tooth. She was taken to a nearby hospital for precautionary evaluation and later released.

"I wish they would have crossed the street at the intersection, with a crossing guard, because the traffic is too fast in that area ... we're grateful she's OK," Rafferty said. "Kids running and darting into that traffic is not safe, please obey crossing signs and signals because they are there for a reason."

Normally, a crossing guard is stationed in the area to assist students after school. Rafferty asked pedestrians to be more cautious while crossing the busy street. The situation could have been far worse, he said.

Classes were still in session at the nearby middle school at the time of the incident, but Andrew High School had dismissed students early due to testing, and freshmen and seniors did not have classes Wednesday.