Tragedy as child dies after horrific double car collision today in Emerald Isle

EMERALD ISLE, N.C. (WITN) – A child hit by a vehicle while riding a bicycle in Emerald Isle Saturday evening is still in the hospital, according to Emerald Isle spokesman Mark Crews.

Crews says 44-year-old Kristy Pruitt Best, of Mt. Olive, was behind the wheel of a vehicle when she hit a 12-year-old boy on his bike around 2:30 a.m. on Highway 58 in the area of the visitors center.

According to Crews, the vehicle was in a traveling lane and the bicyclist was on the bike bath on the opposite side of the road where both were traveling westbound.

The bicyclist suddenly left the bike path and crossed over the eastbound lane through heavy stop-and-go traffic.

The bicyclist entered the westbound travel lane and was hit by the vehicle.

The bicyclist was thrown from the bicycle and landed in the median before being airlifted to ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville.

As of friday morning, Crews says the 12-year-old boy is still in the hospital due to his injuries but is in stable condition.

Crews says the Best was charged with driving while license revoked.