A six-year-old girl has died and another child is in critical condition following a crash involving a minibike and a car in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. The incident occurred Thursday afternoon when the two girls, aged six and an unnamed friend, were riding a minibike eastbound on 63rd Avenue North. They collided with a car traveling south on Brooklyn Drive.
The six-year-old victim, identified as Dreme Damara Williams, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead after being transported to North Memorial Health Hospital. Her friend was also taken to the hospital and remains in critical condition.
Neighbors have expressed concerns about the intersection where the crash occurred, noting the absence of stop signs and the posted 30 mph speed limit on the suburban streets. "There's no stop signs down these streets right here, but cars always just fly straight. They don't ever pause to see if anything is coming," said neighbor Chiquita Townsend to CBS.
Another resident, Richard Anderson, echoed these concerns, stating, "A lot of the uncontrolled intersections are dangerous, every time I drive through them, I slow down on purpose and look both ways." The driver of the car remained at the scene and is cooperating with the police investigation.
Riding minibikes or any motorized bicycles on public roads in Minnesota is illegal for individuals under 16 years old. Those under 18 are required to wear a helmet and possess a driver's license or a motorized bicycle permit. Many minibikes do not meet the legal requirements for motorized bicycles, such as having mirrors, a brake light, title, registration, a headlight, and a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), rendering them illegal for use on public roads.