5-year-old Palatine boy struck by car

A 5-year-old Palatine boy was struck by a car Monday afternoon and seriously injured, police said.

The crash happened at 4:15 p.m. on Palatine Road east of the intersection of Winston Drive.

Witnesses saw the boy walking alone across Palatine Road and not in a crosswalk when he was hit by a gray 2006 Hyundai Sonata driven by a 53-year-old Bartlett man, police said.

Police believe the man had just turned left from southbound Winston Drive onto eastbound Palatine Road when the boy walked in front of the vehicle.

The boy, who family members say is autistic and lives near the crash area, was taken to Northwest Community Hospital with life-threatening injuries. The driver was not injured.

Palatine Road was temporarily closed while the crash was being investigated.