Babysitter Tried To Catch Boy Before Fatal Collision: Police

MINNETONKA, MN — The 3-year-old boy who was killed on a road in the west metro last week has been identified. Police say on the morning of Thursday, Sept. 20, Haitham Jamal Yussuf darted into traffic and was struck by an 80-year-old Minnetonka resident driving eastbound on Smetana Road.

The incident happened at the intersection of Smetana Road and Feltl Road.

The boy was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators say the boy, who had been in the care of a family member, was running along the road when he ran into traffic.

Police do not suspect the driver was impaired.

"The babysitter was trying to catch this young boy and he turned the corner and went across two lanes of traffic," Minnetonka Police Chief Scott Boerboom told KARE 11.

"It's tragic for this young boy, the family, the person driving the car, our officers who arrived and provided first aid, but yeah, it's tragedy all around."

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