Tampa Police officers are investigating a traffic accident involving a vehicle striking a mother and two children while they were crossing S. Dale Mabry Highway Wednesday evening, according to the agency.

  • No crosswalk where mother, children attempted to cross
  • Mother in critical condition, boys with non life-threatening injuries
  • Driver remained on scene; no charges filed

Officers said the mother attempted to cross S. Dale Mabry Highway near Wyoming Avenue, holding her two-year-old boy in her arms while holding the hand of her five-year-old boy as he walked next to her, when all three were hit by a southbound car.

The mother, Cassandra Spicola, 29, and her children--Jordan Williams, 5, and Noah Spicola, 18-months-old--were not using the crosswalk when they were hit.

Witness Learea Wilkerson said she first spotted the trio as they were crossing east to west to Wyoming Avenue. Seconds later, Wilkerson made a U-turn, saw the mother and children on the ground, and rushed to help.

"The baby was further than everyone else," Wilkerson said. "That's the one I approached first and then I saw the other two."

Wilkerson said the two year old was responsive when she got there.

"At first he wasn't crying," she explained. "He was breathing -- he wasn’t crying or anything, but as they brought him over and moved him a little bit he started screaming and crying."

Wilkerson went to say the five year old said his head was hurting as their mother lay in the road.

"[The mother] was unresponsive," Wilkerson said. "She didn't open her eyes. Her arms were moving a little bit."

All three were transported to a local hospital with injuries. The two boys have non life-threatening injuries, according to police.

The mother, meanwhile, is reportedly in critical condition.

The driver of the car remained on the scene after the accident.

Police have closed S. Dale Mabry Highway from Oklahoma Avenue to Wisconsin Avenue while they conduct their investigation. No further information has been released.