Kids on sidewalk struck by vehicle

HOUSTON A 15-year-old schoolmate was behind the wheel of a vehicle as he lost control and mowed down some mailboxes before striking the students. About half a dozen students had just gotten off the school bus when their classmate, who was driving his mother's car without a license, came speeding around the corner, lost control of the car and crashed into the mailboxes and then his group of friends.

We talked to some of the boys who saw the whole thing. They described it as one of the scariest moments of their lives.

Eyewitness Virgil Ford said, "He hit, like, my brother and all my friends. Like, one of my friends, his back was hurting. He was on top of the car, and then my other friend -- his leg was broke."

"My instincts when I see something coming real fast at me is to get out of the way," explained eyewitness Raymar Ford. "So I got out of the way, diving to the grass."

"He just like rambled down the street. My first instinct was to run," said eyewitness Vaydreond Anderson. "I wanted to stay and help my other friends, but I was just trying to save myself."

Philip Patterson, 17, and Jeremiah Mallary, 14, were taken to Houston Northwest Hospital. One has at least a broken leg and the other has internal injuries. Precinct 4 deputies say he complained of back pain. Mallary's father says for now his son is in stable condition.

The 15-year-old driver is charged with aggravated assault, which is a second-degree felony. He is in custody.

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