Seven-year-old Analis Polanco was just trying to get to school Wednesday morning when she was struck by a car while crossing a street in front of her neighborhood bus stop.
She was not seriously hurt.
Here's what happened, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office:
Just before 7 a.m., Anthony Polanco drove his daughter to her bus stop at Pine Top Drive at Summer C Cruise Road. Analis got out of vehicle on the passenger's side and crossed in front it to reach the other side of Pine Top Drive.
But she didn't look for oncoming traffic, and a Kia Spectra traveling east on Pine Top Drive at about 5-10 mph bumped her, causing her to fall and hit her elbow.
While this was happening, the school bus was turning onto Pine Top Drive from Mulrennan Road with yellow lights flashing, about 150 feet away from the bus stop. The driver of the Kia immediately stopped after bumping Analis.
The Nelson Elementary School first-grader suffered a few scratches and did not go to school. Her father took her to an area hospital as a precaution.
"I got out to the front and the lady was going too fast," Analis said. "She was trying to beat the stop sign and she hit me."
Deputies did not ticket the driver, saying the bus had not come to a complete stop when Analis darted into the street. Deputies said driver had the right of way.
Anthony Polanco did not agree, saying the driver should have received a citation.
"[The deputy] said because he didn't see skid marks or because the lights weren't red and they were just yellow," he said. "So it means 'proceed with caution,' telling my daughter she needs to be more cautious."
The sheriff's office recommends parents drop their children off on the same side of the road as the bus stop or that they escort their children across the street to get to the stop.