Police: 5-year-old boy struck on US 2 late at night had 'wandered away from home'

LAKE STEVENS, Wash. -- The Washington State Patrol said a 5-year-old boy who was walking alone on U.S. Route 2 late at night and who was struck by an SUV had "wandered away from his home."

Trooper Heather Axtman said the boy suffered a "traumatic" leg injury and was eventually transferred to Seattle's Harborview Medical Center for treatment. He is expected to survive, Axtman said.

The boy was walking westbound on the U.S. 2 Trestle between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Thursday,  Axtman said, when he was hit. He apparently walked onto the trestle from 20th Street SE.

Lake Stevens Police said they determined there was no criminal negligence on the family's part.

Police said the mom told them she had put her son to bed and then went to bed herself. Security camera footage confirmed that, showing the boy getting out of bed, manipulating the front door open and walking out of the house. The child walked about a quarter-mile before getting to U.S. 2.

The driver of the Nissan Rogue that struck the boy stayed at the scene and called for help. The driver, an adult woman, showed no signs of impairment, Axtman said.

It's a 55 mph speed zone in that area of the highway and the boy walked "right in the middle," Axtman said.