Cops: Boy, 9, killed by teen driver

A 9-year-old boy, riding his bicycle on a Floral Park sidewalk, was struck and killed Thursday night by an SUV operated by a teenager learning how to drive, police said.

Andrew Burrous of Floral Park was taken by ambulance from the accident scene, Plainfield Avenue and Martha Terrace, about 6:30 p.m., to Long Island Jewish Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

"He was wearing a helmet like he's supposed to, but that wasn't enough to help him, unfortunately," said Floral Park Police Sgt. Ronald Gagliano.

The boy's mother, Kathy Burrous, 49, who was walking two dogs in the street near him, also was struck, police said. She was treated and released from the hospital.

Gagliano said a 16-year-old New Hyde Park girl with a learner's permit was practicing driving with her mother in the car. "She goes to make a turn on . . . Martha Terrace," Gagliano said. "And for unknown reason makes a wide right turn, brushes against the mom, knocking her to the ground, and then hits the 9-year-old son who was on a bicycle on the sidewalk."

The vehicle continued eastbound, Gagliano said, striking a utility pole guide wire, "glances against a telephone pole and strikes a parked car, pushing the car back 45 feet."

Gagliano said the teenager must have hit the gas pedal while intending to hit the brake, because the car traveled about 100 feet from the corner before coming to a stop.

No charges were filed Thursday night and detectives reported no apparent criminality, police said.