A 4-year-old boy was struck and killed by a police cruiser after two officers' cars collided en route to a report of a man with a gun in downtown Allentown Wednesday night.

Daviay Lagrand was standing on the sidewalk with a group of people, including his mother, as the two police cars entered the intersection of North Seventh and Chew streets from different directions and collided. One flew onto the sidewalk, striking the boy and an unidentified adult man.

Police said the man suffered serious injuries to his lower body, and the officers received minor injuries.

The officers were headed to the area near Grand Hotel on 10th Street to check out reports of a man waving a gun, and a suspect was later arrested in connection with that incident.

But two officers never made it to the scene because of the accident, and authorities were still investigating. They did not release any information suggesting which Allentown car had a green light.

No charges were immediately filed, but people who said they witnessed the crash were shaken.

"First you heard the sirens, then you heard the tires screech, then you heard the bang," said Crystal Spearman, who said she witnessed the accident. "The little boy was laying there, severed in half."

The scene became chaotic as bottles and rocks were thrown at police, Hendricks said. He said several clergy members helped try to maintain order.

"This is straight up all the Allentown Police Department's fault," said Christina Smith of Allentown, who also said she witnessed the crash.

State police are investigating and witnesses are urged to contact them at the Bethlehem headquarters at 610-861-2026.

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