Child struck near food truck; community steps in
A 4-year-old girl is in critical condition after being struck by a car Wednesday night near a food truck in northwest Knoxville, according to Metro Knoxville police and local service providers. The incident occurred just after 9 p.m. near Merchants Drive and Cedar Lane, an area near the West Lonsdale neighborhood where the family has operated a food truck.
The child’s family is Afghan and has been connected to the Center for English and Integration Services housed at West Lonsdale Baptist Church. Staff at the center said the father learned English through their program, found work and opened the food truck to support his wife and four children.
“This family’s been through a lot, in general, and this is just another thing to add to it, another obstacle. And yeah, it really sat in our hearts,”
— Cayla Graner, childcare coordinator at the Center for English and Integration Services, speaking about the family’s situation after the crash.
Immediate impact and community response
The center mobilized quickly after learning of the collision, saying the father is currently unable to work while his daughter recovers. Volunteers and neighbors organized short-term financial relief through a GoFundMe that had raised nearly $1,000 within days of the crash.
- Location: Merchants Drive and Cedar Lane
- Time: just after 9 p.m. Wednesday
- Victim: 4-year-old girl, critical condition
- Family: Afghan immigrant family connected to the Center for English and Integration Services
Suspect and ongoing investigation
Knoxville police said the driver was identified as 54-year-old Charles Jump, who was working for the food truck’s owner at the time. Investigators reported that Jump and the child’s father — identified by neighbors as Habib — had an argument. As Jump drove away, police say his vehicle struck the girl while she was playing near the curb.
Authorities also reported that Jump had an active domestic assault warrant out of Sevier County and was driving on a revoked license. The news accounts did not include information about any formal charges filed in Knox County as of the latest update.
What neighbors and service providers say
Staff at the Center for English and Integration Services framed the response as an extension of their work with immigrant families. The center’s staff emphasized that the father had leveraged the program to gain language skills and economic stability before opening the food truck, and that the current situation places the family under immediate financial strain.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Incident location | Merchants Drive & Cedar Lane, Knoxville |
| Time | Just after 9 p.m., Wednesday |
| Victim | 4-year-old girl (critical condition) |
| Driver | Charles Jump, 54 |
| Community response | Nearly $1,000 raised via GoFundMe; support from Center for English and Integration Services |
Neighbors and the center urged the community to support the family as medical expenses and lost income mount while the father is away from the food truck. Police investigators continue to examine the circumstances of the collision.
This incident has underscored broader concerns about safety near food vending locations and the vulnerabilities immigrant-owned small businesses face when a household member is incapacitated. Local organizations say they will continue providing assistance as details develop.
