MANCHESTER — A Manchester man driving with a suspended license struck two boys who were out playing in a sprinkler on the West Side on Tuesday.

David Ryan said his 7-year-old son, Nicholas, tried to yank his cousin, Danny Stratton, 5, out of the path of the Chevy Suburban before the vehicle hit both kids at the corner of Notre Dame and Walsh avenues by West High School.

“Unfortunately, he wasn't quick enough,” David Ryan said.

After the accident, “my son, Nicholas, actually tried to pull Danny out from underneath the car,” David Ryan added.

Police said the children were struck in the street on Walsh Avenue, but Mr. Ryan said his son told police at Catholic Medical Center that both boys were on the sidewalk. Police said the accident remained under investigation.

Stratton suffered a broken femur and a fractured pelvis as well as an eye injury and was undergoing surgery at Elliot Hospital on Tuesday evening, Mr. Ryan said.

Nicholas Ryan sustained bumps and bruises, was treated at CMC and returned home, according to his father.

“People drive like ... hellions around here,” the elder Ryan said. “They don't watch for the kids.”

Both families live in the same apartment building at 26-28 Notre Dame Avenue, at the corner of Notre Dame and Walsh avenues.

About five kids were playing in a rotating sprinkler in the apartment house's yard to try to stay cool, Mr. Ryan said.

The accident happened around 4:15 p.m. when the driver turned left on to Walsh Avenue from Notre Dame Avenue, authorities said.

Police said the Surburban's driver, Julius Lang, 22, of 265 Central St., was issued a summons for operating after suspension for default of a court summons. Lang has outstanding warrants in Amherst and the greater Derry area, according to police.

“He was arrested on unrelated oustanding warrants,” police Sgt. John Patti said at the scene. “Based on what we saw at the scene, it doesn't appear the driver was at fault.”

Alcohol and drugs don't appear to be factors, authorities said.

Mr. Ryan said the driver stopped and “was all concerned about the kids.”

Manchester resident Nicky Brown, who knows Lang, walked to the accident scene to see what happened.

“It's horrible,” Brown said.

A Notre Dame Avenue neighbor identifying himself as Steven said kids often are at risk of being injured.

“There's so many kids hanging in the road around here,” he said. “Their parents let them roam.

"I'm surprised there's not more kids getting hit, to be honest with you.”

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Mike Cousineau may be reached at mcousineau@unionleader.com.