One day after 3-year-old Cassiano Modesto was hit and killed by a car, the mayor of Brockton is vowing to take action to curb the spate of pedestrian accidents in his city.

Watch the report | View images of crash scene

Since April, there have been 12 pedestrian-related accidents in the city. Earlier this month, Nazair Nunes-Escobar was hit and killed by an 18-wheeler on his 12th birthday as he tried out his new roller blades.

"In light of these recent incidents, certainly it gives a heightened awareness and urgency to do what we can," Mayor Bill Carpenter said.

In most cases, the driver hasn't been to blame.

"We're a very congested city," Carpenter said. "We've got a lot of cars and bicycles and pedestrians.

Grieving family and friends mourned the loss of Modesto, who was hit on Harvey Street.

Around 4:42 p.m. Friday, the Brockton Police Department received numerous calls reporting that a child had been hit by a car on Hervey Street, just west of Main Street.

"It was like a boom," Manuel Monteiro said. "Like a car hit another car."

When police arrived at the scene, they said they found the driver of the BMW, who did stop and remained at the scene.

Modesto was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Carpenter said he did what he could to console a grieving mother.

"It's a terrible tragedy," he said. "I don't know what to say to a mother who has just lost her 3-year-old son -- let alone witnessed it."

Carpenter said Cassiano and his mother had just returned from a hair salon and were visiting relatives when Cassiano ran into the street and was hit by the car.

The Plymouth County District Attorney's Office said no criminal charges are pending at this time.

The incident remains under investigation. 

Brockton child hit, killed by car
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