UPDATED with age of girl, new details on police car

ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis County police officer struck a 12-year-old girl Monday evening along Halls Ferry Road and Riverview Boulevard.

The girl was taken to a hospital, where police on Tuesday said she was in critical condition. She was conscious and breathing at the scene.

The SUV hit the girl at about 5:45 p.m. Monday in the 8900 block of Halls Ferry Road.

Bystanders said the county police officer was chasing a car when she was hit, but St. Louis Police Capt. Perri Johnson said he could not confirm that there was a pursuit in progress.

Police didn't clarify Tuesday whether it was a pursuit or not. That question seemed to be bounced from one department to the other.

County police spokesman Sgt. Benjamin Granda referred all reporters' questions about the incident to the St. Louis Police Department, which he said is leading the investigation.