NATICK, Mass. (AP) – A wheelchair racer crashed into a 7-year-old girl during the Boston Marathon Monday, police said.

The girl, who was not seriously injured, was treated and release from MetroWest Medical Center.

The racer, Krige Schabort of Cedartown, Ga., who finished second, said he saw a young girl crossing the course around mile 11.

He and spectators shouted at the girl to move, but he couldn’t avoid her, hitting her with his front and left wheels. He lost control of his three-wheel race chair and tipped over, Schabort said.

He considered quitting the race, but decided to continue after he was told the girl was all right. He estimated his speed at around 17 mph.

Mark Connelly, an off-duty Natick firefighter who lives nearby, witnessed the accident.

“I just saw her fly in the air like a rag doll,” he said.

Connelly said he kept the girl from moving and told somebody to call an ambulance.

He said the girl appeared to be shaken, but didn’t lose consciousness and appeared not to be seriously injured.

“It could have been worse. She was lucky,” Connelly said.

AP-ES-04-21-03 1833EDT