Friend talks about boy hit by car in East Hartford

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- A community is praying for a little boy who was hit by a car while riding his bike, but the child is barely holding on.

Witnesses say it happened as fast as you can count to three. The 8-year-old on the bike veered out into traffic, and was hit head-on by a car.

"He was bleeding through his head, and he looked dazed," said Nate Quintero, victim's friend.

Paul Gronda, 52, was arrested for driving with a suspended license and no proof of insurance.

Young faces stood with their bikes, staring at the spot in the street where their 8-year-old friend was hit.

"After I was out there for a long time I went inside and prayed for him that he get better," said Nate. "He is like my little brother."

The accident happened around 11:30 p.m. Nate says his curfew is at 8 p.m., or he might have been with his friend when he got hit.

"I was riding bikes with him," Nate said, "and a few hours later he got hit by the car."

"What's going through your mind," asked News 8's Bob Wilson.

"I am devastated right now, I still can't believe what happened," Nate said. "I was at school and I thought about it the whole time, I couldn't focus in class."

Police are still in the preliminary stages of the investigation and are looking at all factors. Nate says it's a busy street, packed with cars and people.

"I try to help out the other kids too," Nate said, "like when they go in the street I try and get them out of the street because it's not good to be in the street with all of these people speeding."

As his 8-year-old friend is in the ICU on life support, he has a message for him.

"If he was watching...I love you and miss you and you are like my little brother," Nate said. "I hope you get better."