BATTLE CREEK (WKZO) -- A Battle Creek woman watched helplessly as her eight-year-old daughter was hit by a car, with the driver claiming to be equally helpless in avoiding the collision.

The third grader was admitted to Bronson Methodist in Kalamazoo in critical condition on Tuesday.  Battle Creek Police say the girl and her mother were crossing Columbia Avenue.  The mother stopped in the middle lane to let crossing traffic go through, but the girl continued walking and stepped out in front of an oncoming vehicle

The name of the victim has not been released.