By Jane Prendergast
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Three women console the mother of a small child who was struck by a truck. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

An 18-month-old boy who walked out between parked vehicles near his Carthage home was struck and killed Thursday morning.

The accident left the neighborhood awash in emotion as residents witnessed the anguish of the boy's parents as they collapsed in yards sobbing. Several friends comforted the relatives of Michael Steven Tritt, who was dead when emergency workers arrived.

The boy's mother, driven to the scene, jumped out of the car yelling, "Where's my baby? Where's my baby?"

Firefighters took Michael's body from the arms of a man who had scooped the body off the street and had been holding him.

Michael's death was the second time this summer a toddler was struck and killed by a motorist.

In June, Tyaisha Hall, 2, of North Avondale, was killed after a car jumped a curb in St. Bernard and struck her.

In Thursday's accident, police said Michael walked between a van and a car and into traffic in the 6600 block of Vine Street just after 9:30 a.m. and was hit by a pickup truck.

Police questioned the pickup driver, Dennis Jackson, 48, of Hamilton, which is routine in fatal accidents. No charges were filed Thursday.

Cincinnati police Sgt. Bill Coombs said the investigation was continuing.

E-mail jprendergast@enquirer.com