Gooden’s Brother Critical After Being Hit by Car

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. —  Dwight Gooden’s 4-year-old brother was in critical condition today after being struck by a car when he darted across a street toward his grandmother, police said.

Derrick Lavorn Gooden underwent surgery late Monday at All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg after the 4:25 p.m. accident, his father and a hospital spokeswoman said.

The boy was hit by a car as he tried to run across the street to his grandmother, Mercedes Pedro, whose car was in the turn lane, St. Petersburg police said. The driver was not charged, police said.

Gooden’s family said it planned to tell the New York Met pitcher about the accident after his game in New York Monday night against the Montreal Expos.