JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A child was rushed to a Jacksonville hospital Wednesday in critical condition, according to the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department.
First Coast News is working to confirm the condition of the child after police spent hours at the scene on Spicewood Drive in the Holiday Hill area. Jacksonville Sheriff's officers on the scene said they would not have a media briefing explaining what happened because the incident did not meet their qualifications for a briefing.
Austin Vandergriff was riding his bike with his children when he came across the police tape in his neighborhood.
“A kid that got hurt, definitely not something you want to hear about,” he said.
Police have not confirmed the circumstances of the child’s injuries nor the child's condition. Martha Shields lives a few doors down from the home investigators were going in and out of.
“We were doing stuff in the yard, getting ready for the hurricane," Shields told First Coast News. "All of the sudden, two fire trucks, two stations that I noticed had come. We’ve never seen that many come at one time and I think there was an ambulance down there.”
Neighbors said they’re heartbroken a child got hurt.
“That’s hard to hear," said Vandergriff. "I have a bunch of kids myself so hearing that, it’s definitely difficult to hear. I hope the person’s okay or the kid’s okay.”
“It’s sad," said Shields. "It just breaks your heart. And if I start crying, I’m not gonna stop.”
Investigators said the people at the home did not want to speak with reporters. First Coast News has requested more information and will report an update when that information becomes available.