March 29, 2024

Aurora Park incident sends one to hospital

A 16-year-old boy was injured Thursday afternoon in an incident that could have had much worse consequences.

According to a release from Lt. Ron Cook of the Newton Police Department, an incident that began as "horseplay" led to the 16-year-old's injuries. The teen was transported to Skiff Medical Center by the Newton Fire Department with non-life-threatening injuries, and his condition was unknown at press time.

Newton Police were initially called to the park area at around 3:30 p.m. after a report of a youth hit by a car.

"Upon arrival, officers discovered a 16-year-old male sitting in the street with obvious abrasion injuries," Cook said in his report. "Witnesses told officers that the male had also struck his head on the pavement."

Police soon found out that the 16-year-old wasn't hit by a car, but actually jumped onto the hood of a car driven by one of his peers, and eventually fell onto the pavement, causing his injuries.

There were a large number of people near the park, as Newton High School was out for the day when the injury happened. The NHS boys tennis team was getting practice under way on the park's courts.

"Officers discovered that several juveniles were engaging in horseplay on S. 2nd Ave. E.," Cook said. "At some point, the injured male jumped on to the hood of his friend’s car. The driver then sped away with the male on the hood."

S. 2nd Ave. E. comes to an end in a "T" intersection at E. 21st St. S., and the driver of the vehicle turned South on E. 21st St.

"That's when the male fell off of the hood of the car, striking the roadway," Cook said.

Newton police then interviewed several people on scene. The driver of the vehicle was cited for a violation of conditions of minor’s school license.

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com