2 Children Struck, 1 Killed by Car in Raleigh

Raleigh, N.C. — One child has died and another remains in critical condition from injuries received when the two were hit by a vehicle in Raleigh Wednesday afternoon.

It happened at about 4:45 p.m. on the corner of Spring Forest and Falls of Neuse roads.

A woman and three children were attempting to cross Falls of Neuse Road, from east to west, when 7-year-old and 9-year-old boys separated from the mother and ran ahead. The boys were struck by a 1992 Toyota 4 Runner traveling southbound on Falls of Neuse, said Jim Sughrue, spokesman for the Raleigh Police Department.

The third child also ran ahead but was not hit.

“The one thing I could say was, ‘Oh no! Oh no! Oh no!’” witness Sam Townsend said. “They just went flying up in the air and rolling on the pavement."

The children were transported to WakeMed with critical injuries, emergency dispatch officials said. Kaled Shahin, 9, died. His brother, 7-year-old Basil Shahin, is in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.

Police do not plan to file charges against the driver of the vehicle, 57-year-old Catherine Mary Biondi. The mother and children were traveling against the light, which was green for Falls of Neuse traffic, Sughrue said.

“The car coming had the green light and hit them,” witness Cheryl Barbour said.

The police have not released the name of the mother of the children. She did not file a witness report.