Teen hit while crossing busy Vancouver street

Vancouver police say a 14-year-old boy who tried to cross a busy city street on Tuesday night was struck by an allegedly intoxicated driver and injured.

The boy attempted to cross Thurston Way, south of Vancouver Mall Drive, through heavy traffic at 5:11 p.m., Vancouver Police Department spokeswoman Kim Kapp said in an email.

“As the teen entered the southbound lanes of travel he was struck by a truck. He was not in a crosswalk at the time of the (crash),” Kapp said.

The impact broke both of the boy’s legs. He was taken to a hospital for treatment, police said.

All witnesses indicated that the truck driver had no opportunity to stop or avoid the boy. Police confirmed that the driver could not have avoided the crash, but he was driving his vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

The driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI.

Kapp identified the driver as Jason E. Melcher, 46. Melcher is not listed on the Clark County Jail inmate roster or the Clark County Superior Court’s Tuesday first appearance docket.