AHOSKIE – A four-year-old Bertie County girl escaped serious injury here Thursday when she was struck by a vehicle in the parking lot of the Ahoskie Commons Shopping Center.

Major Jimmy Asbell of the Ahoskie Police Department reported that the child was accompanied by at least two adults after exiting one of the businesses at the shopping center.

“Apparently, the little girl’s grandmother and another person had already crossed the lane of travel and were in the parking area when the child darted out from the sidewalk,” Asbell said. “The child’s mother was still on the sidewalk when the little girl darted out into traffic.”

At that precise moment, Lorraine Raynor of Ahoskie, operating a 1997 Ford Explorer, was traveling south in the parking lot.

“She (Raynor) did not have any time to react, it all happened that fast,” Asbell said. “She was driving normally at the time of the incident. There was no excess speed involved.”

The child was transported to Roanoke-Chowan Hospital for observation. Asbell said it did not appear to him that she suffered any significant injuries.

Ahoskie Police Officer Andres’ Snape investigated the mishap. No charges were filed.