Santa Rosa trick-or-treater struck by truck on Halloween identified

The young Halloween trick-or-treater who was stuck by a slow-moving truck Monday evening has been identified as Paityn Gray, 9, of Santa Rosa.

Emergency officials originally reported two girls were hit by the truck. But Sgt. Summer Black of the Santa Rosa Police Department’s traffic unit said Wednesday that only Paityn Gray was struck by the vehicle. The other girl, a 4-year-old from Santa Rosa who was near Gray at the time was uninjured.

The two girls were walking with parents and friends in a crosswalk in southwest Santa Rosa at about 6:50 p.m. while trick-or-treating when the incident took place.

Driver Thomas Vinci, 60, of Santa Rosa had stopped at the westbound stop sign on Tuxhorn Drive and was turning left onto Raindance Way. Adults near the girls just missed being hit, said police Sgt. Dave Linscomb.

Witnesses at the scene reported that multiple people had been struck, and dispatchers sent two ambulances. The Bellevue Ranch neighborhood was busy with trick-or-treaters and within minutes a crowd had gathered, according to a neighbor.

Witnesses told officers the older girl might have been initially knocked unconscious, but was talking prior to heading for the hospital, police said. The younger girl didn’t appear to have injuries but was also sent to the hospital as a precaution, Lowenthal said.

Vinci stopped at the crash and has cooperated with police, who don’t suspect he was impaired or using a cellphone.

Law enforcement officials reported Tuesday that Gray was at Children’s Hospital Oakland and was in stable condition. Hospital officials did not have an update Wednesday, indicating they were no longer treating Gray at the site.

“At the present time, we don’t have a patient by that name here,” said Melinda Krigel, a Children’s Hospital spokeswoman.

You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 707-521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @renofish.