Girl struck by car, killed on west side

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Metro police said a 12-year-old girl was struck and killed on the west side Tuesday evening.

Police were called to West 10th Street and Country Club Way just after 6 p.m.

The girl has been identified as Helaina Hawkins, who just turned 12 on Saturday.

Police said Hawkins was rollerblading on her way home with a group of friends when she tried to cross the street and was struck by a 2004 Chevy Impala driven by a 60-year-old man.

"There were two little girls out here who were yelling pretty loud," said neighbor Anna Carter. "Til I heard the first siren and saw the first lights. Then, I knew that the kids -- something had happened."

The shattered windshield shows where the car hit Hawkins and, being on the right side of the car, that tells police she nearly made it across.

The area was dimly lit at the time of the crash, if not dark. Complicating the matter for anyone on foot, or on rollerblades, is that there are no sidewalks in the area.

For Anna Carter, and her daughter, Alicen, Tuesday's tragedy was a painful reminder of their own loss.

"It hits very close to home because that's how her father died. He was struck by a car, with no sidewalks, on another side of town," Carter said.

The driver of the Impala was not impaired or traveling at an excessive speed and does not face charges, police said.