BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Just days after the start of the new school year 9-year-old boy was hit by a car on his way to schooll with his grandmother, and now Birmingham police are searching for the driver who allegedly fled. This incident occurred just steps away from Minor Elementary School.

Malcom Cooper, Kamarien’s father, said his son is doing well and recovering from minor injuries in the hospital. Dr. Vanessa Byrd-Moore, the principal of Minor Elementary School, mentioned that she has known Kamarien since he was in kindergarten and that she can’t believe what happened. She wants the driver to come forward and she said she wakes up every day and prays for her students and staff to have a safe trip and a great day.

Dr. Moore greets students every morning as they walk through the front doors of Minor Elementary School. Wednesday was no different until she received a call that one of her students had been injured on the way to school.

“My assistant principal came to me and said he had received a call that one of our students was injured. I looked around and could see no signs that anything was wrong,” said Dr. Moore.

She then drove to the back of the school near Avenue T and Pike Road and saw police. 9-year-old Kamarien Cooper was hit by a car while walking to school with his grandmother.

Kamarien’s father says he still can’t believe it.

“They stopped at the only stop sign between his home street and his school, and he stopped and made sure the cars were clear. The car that was at the stop sign was still waiting, so he went behind the car. Then the car sped down the hill and collided with him. I’m told the car that hit him kept going,” Cooper said.

Fortunately, Kamarien has no serious injuries.

“The swelling is the biggest damage, luckily there are no broken bones or anything like that. I was told and I can see from some of the injuries that his leg is twisted. He’s a little bit bruised, a little bit. He told us he never wants to walk again. He’s definitely in pain. When I got to the emergency room, he wrapped himself around me and started crying,” Cooper added.

Cooper’s main focus right now is his son and his full recovery. While the police search for the person responsible, Dr. Moore has the following message:

“If you were driving this morning and you know you didn’t hit a cat or a dog, please, please, please turn yourself in,” Moore pleaded.

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