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Distracted driver strikes child in Qwanlin Mall

Distracted driver strikes child in Qwanlin Mall A Whitehorse woman who was driving while talking on her cellphone struck a three-year-old boy in the Qwanlin Mall parking lot Thursday.

A Whitehorse woman who was driving while talking on her cellphone struck a three-year-old boy in the Qwanlin Mall parking lot Thursday.

The child was deemed shaken, but unharmed by paramedics who were called shortly after the accident occurred, around 10:50 a.m.

The woman, whose name is not being disclosed by RCMP, faces one count of driving with undue care, which carries a $230 penalty.

The boy and his mother were crossing the parking lot towards Staples when the mother noticed a Nissan Sentra was not slowing to let them pass.

The mother yelled at the driver to stop. The boy, who was ahead of the mother, turned back towards her and was struck by the front side of the car, near the wheel well. He was spun and knocked to the ground.

The accident serves as a reminder for drivers to take care to not be distracted by electronic gadgets - whether they be phones, iPods or radios - said Sgt. Don Rogers with the Whitehorse RCMP.(John Thompson)