BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- At about 7:20 p.m. Wednesday, a 5-year-old boy was hit by a truck while walking with his mother across O Street, Bakersfield police reported.

Spring Faulkner, 23, and her 5-year-old son, Sterling, were walking across O Street. just north of 34th Street.

While they were in the roadway, a white, '70s pick-up truck, struck Sterling, causing moderate to major injuries, BPD reported.

Sterling was transported to Kern Medical Center for treatment and was later transported to Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera in critical condition. The mother was not hit and was not injured, BPD reported.

The driver, John T. Clark III, 45, fled the scene northbound on O Street.

At about 10:30 p.m., officers located the vehicle in a nearby parking lot and it was indentified by witnesses as being involved in the accident, BPD reported.

Moments later, police were contacted about Clark attempting to enter the passenger door of a vehicle in the 3500 block of San Dimas Street.

Clark was trying to steal a car where he was detained and witnesses identified him as being the driver of the hit and run vehicle at the time of the accident, BPD reported.

Clark was arrested and booked into the Kern County Jail for Felony DUI causing injury, felony hit and run with injury, DUI with priors and driving with a suspended license.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Bakersfield Police Department at 327-7111.