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Toddler struck by SUV on beach in Volusia County

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A toddler who was struck by an SUV on the beach in Volusia County on Monday afternoon has been treated and released from the hospital.

Officials said the toddler, Anthony Clark, was taken to the hospital after the incident at about 3 p.m. The boy suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to authorities.

The boy's mother, Jennifer Lewis, described the ordeal to Eyewitness News.

"I was looking at him while he was was gettig hit by the vehicle," Lewis said.

Witnesses told Channel 9 the child darted in front of the driver so quickly that the she had no chance to stop.

Authorities said the boy was struck by the front of the SUV and rolled under it but did not get crushed by the tires. He did, however, suffer burns from the underside of the vehicle.

"I'm thankful that nothing else happened," Lewis said.

The driver, Leesa Durocher of Ormond Beach, told WFTV she didn't know what to do after hitting the boy.

"I exited my car, and I didn't know what to do. I just embraced the mother," Durocher said. "You know, it just happened so quickly."

Some witnesses said Durocher was speeding but other witnesses said that wasn’t the case.

"She had her windows up so she didn't hear everybody else telling her to stop until she hit him," Lewis said.

"You turn your head for half a second and the kid takes off. It's a parent's worst nightmare," one beachgoer said.

The driver possibly implied the child's mother was to blame.

"I don’t want to say anything against the mother because I know it's hard to have children on the beach but as a parent when my children were little, they didn't get away from me," Durocher said.

Authorities continue to investigate and said it's likely Durocher won't face any charges