Ponce Inlet boy, 10, hit by pick up Wednesday morning while running across school crosswalk at Port Orange's Spruce Creek Elementary; still critical overnight at Halifax Medical Center

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PORT ORANGE -- A 10-year-old boy struck by a pick-up truck while trying to cross Taylor Road for Spruce Creek Elementary School, remained in critical condition overnight at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Port Orange police said.

Douglas Ethan Swayze, a fifth grader, was running in the crosswalk toward the school in the 600 block of Taylor just after 7 a.m. when he was struck by a Chevy pick up driven by 60-year-old Michael Schoenbeck. Indications are the driver was driving within the posted speed of 45 mph and it was still dark outside, Assistant Police Chief Wayne Miller said, based on an initial investigation that is ongoing.

Schoenbeck was upset about child's situation, the police administrator said. The vehicle sustained front-end and hood damage.

The Ponce Inlet boy was dropped off at the nearby intersection with Country Lane, just west of the school by his mother, Cara Swayze.
The child walked toward the crosswalk and then ran across it just before crossing guarfds were getting read to set up orange cones for the routine start of 7:15 a.m. when traffic is slowed to 20 mph in school zones.

Port Orange fire paramedics were called to the scene at 7/:14 a.m. and the child was transported to the hospital.