MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A Tennessee 11-year-old was hit by a car and then raped as she walked to school Monday morning.

The girl told police she was hit by a vehicle near the intersection of Delta Road and 12th Road shortly before 7 a.m. as she was walking to Geeter Middle School in southwest Memphis, Fox 13 reports.

MORE NEWS: Know These Before Moving From Cyprus To The UK

The child’s mother told WREG a black man then got out and put the girl in an SUV, where he raped her before tossing her in a ditch near Delta and Mason roads. The girl was found bruised in the ditch.

“The suspect is described as a 30-year-old man with dreadlocks and a blue shirt. The victim said he was driving a dark-colored Kia Sorrento or Hyundai Tuscon with the drivers’ side rear light broken,” WRCB reports.

Fox 13 reported the vehicle may have been a blue Tahoe or similar SUV.

The child was taken to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital for treatment and is in non-critical condition as the Memphis Police Department’s sex crimes unit investigates.

School officials issued a statement about the incident, which was published online by LocalMemphis.com.

“We are aware of an open MPD investigation in the community near some of our schools. Student safety is our top priority and we are asking parents to help us stress to children the importance of being careful walking to/from school,” the statement read.

MORE NEWS: How to prepare for face-to-face classes

“We sent a phone call to the parents of surrounding schools today and also requested extra support from MPD in the Whitehaven area.”

“I do encourage, if they have to walk … to try to walk in groups, partner up with somebody, two, three, five if need be,” Memphis Police Lt. Col. Gregory Sanders told Local Memphis. “That way we can get them to school … safe.”

Parents and locals expressed outrage over the incident online.

“Each day we are reading more and more about children being sexually assaulted,” Elmarie Celatka posted to Facebook. “She observed much information and I hope it catches the man.”

“Talk about a bad day!” Misty Keith added. “So sad when kids can’t even be safe walking to or from school!”

“God love her,” Tammie Howard posted. “He needs to be shot.”

“Wtf is wrong with people?” Emmy TessenRose wrote.