COLERAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- Two juveniles were struck while trying to cross Interstate 275 Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.
The youths were crossing the westbound lanes between Hamilton Avenue and Colerain Avenue just before 5 p.m., according to police.
The juveniles' injuries were not life-threatening, Colerain police spokesperson Jim Love said. Their parents have been notified, he said.
The two were with a group of about 20 who were crossing the highway from Clippard Park, according to Love.
The other children ran away when police arrived, Love said.
At least nine people called 911 to report the teens trying to cross the highway before they were hit. Some of the callers reported some of the teens had reached the median in the center of the highway.
More people called 911 to report the collisions. They said several drivers stopped and got out of their cars to help the teens.
"A pedestrian was struck on the interstate," one man said. "They were trying to cross and - bam - they got hit. They got hit hard."
The driver who hit one of the teens also called 911 to report the incident.
"I just hit someone on the highway," he told an emergency dispatcher.
The driver said he was not hurt in the collision. Love said the driver was cooperating with police.
Officials closed the highway for a little under an hour.
Love said the incident was an opportunity to remind others not to make the same mistake.
"You should never cross an expressway, period," he said. "Don't ever attempt that."
