A 4-year-old was inches away from a tragic outcome Friday afternoon when he and his bicycle were run over by a 1996 GMC Suburban. Fortunately, both he and his bicycle emerged unscathed.

“It was a pretty lucky escape,” said Lt. Ray Shupe, of the Durango Police Department. “The 4-year-old was riding his bicycle on the sidewalk when the Suburban backed over him.”

The boy and his bike were saved by the high clearance of the vehicle. The incident took place shortly after 2 p.m. Friday, Shupe said, in the 100 block of Riverview Drive.

“The driver said he just didn’t see him,” Shupe said.

The driver, a Durango resident, was cited for unsafe backing in a parking area.

abutler@durangoherald.com