Aug. 11--BILOXI -- A week after a fire damaged the Randall Drive home Anita Seymour shared with her six grandchildren, one of her grandsons was hit by a car, authorities said.
Police aren't releasing the boy's name because he's a minor, but said he suffered a broken leg.
Seymour was at the burned home Saturday because several off-duty firefighters, including Chief Joe Boney, were helping her gut the house, Sgt. John Campbell said.
The fire started from a short in a television in the house Seymour shared the grandchildren she's raising and her two adult sons, one of whom has special needs.
The family had gone to church Aug. 4, then the four oldest grandchildren -- David, 9, Daniel, 10, Dwayne, 11, and Alaura, 13 -- left with a church group on an outing to Flint Creek.
Seymour was home with the younger two, Angelina, 7, and DeShaun, 8, when they noticed the fire.
While crews were gutting the house Saturday, one of the grandsons took off on his bike to a friend's house nearby to spend the night. At the same time, a woman was driving north on Randall Drive going about 5 mph, Campbell said.
The two connected about 12:30 p.m. when the boy came out from behind a parked SUV and hit the woman's vehicle in the right-front wheel area, Campbell said.
The boy fell off the bike and the vehicle's tire rolled over his leg, Campbell said.
The incident is under investigation, but Campbell said a traffic citation for the woman is unlikely.
"She was very traumatized," he said.
Seymour and her family have been staying in a hotel on U.S. 49 since the fire.
The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer has set up a benefit bank account at The Peoples Bank to help raise money to repair their home. Donations can be made at any branch or mailed to the church at 1904 Popp's Ferry Road, Biloxi, MS 39532. The account name is Church of The Redeemer in Benefit of the Seymour Family.
The church also is accepting donations, such as clothing, and will be compiling a list of basic household items the family will need, such as pillows, sheets and towels. Donations can be dropped off at the church.
Seymour has been raising her grandchildren for eight years. Her husband died in February.
The family's two dogs escaped the fire. A 5-month-old kitten and a 6-month-old puppy did not.
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