MAIDEN, N.C. (WBTV/Gray News) – A 2-year-old boy was wandering alone when he was struck and killed by a passing car in North Carolina, officials said.

According to the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, the boy was walking alone around 7:30 p.m. Saturday night when an oncoming vehicle hit him on Buffalo Shoals Road.

He was taken to a local hospital where he died from his injuries.

The State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. The driver that hit the child is not currently facing any charges.

The Catawba County Sheriff’s Office is also investigating, trying to determine why and how this boy was unsupervised while walking on a public road at nighttime.

As of Sunday night, no charges have been filed in that investigation either.

Neighbors are still processing the tragedy.

Jessica Cudd lives a few doors down from the 2-year-old’s family and said multiple animals have been hit and killed on the same stretch of Buffalo Shoals Road, largely in-part to how dark the road gets at night.

Cudd said after a tragedy like this, lights need to be added to the road.

“Definitely more lights,” Cudd said. “Especially right here, because at night, this whole spot is so black, and you can’t see nothing.”

The Catawba County Sheriff’s Office told WBTV that the department would be consulting with the county’s District Attorney in its investigation.

The 2-year-old’s identity has not been released.

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