PEABODY - A 12-year-old local boy is in a Boston hospital after being struck by a sport utility vehicle yesterday afternoon while he was crossing the heavily traveled Main Street on his scooter.

Police said the boy, Stephen Mavroules, suffered a double compound fracture to his leg and was taken to Salem Hospital first and later to Massachusetts General Hospital. The driver of the SUV, Carol O'Connor, 52, of Marblehead, was not injured.

A hospital spokeswoman did not have information about Stephen's condition as of press time this morning.

Police say the crash happened shortly after 3:30 p.m. when Stephen crossed the street in the crosswalk while traffic had the green light. He was struck by a 2002 Acura MDX heading west toward Peabody Square.

Police Lt. John McCorry said O'Connor was in the outside lane and approaching the Washington Street intersection. There was a trash truck in the inside lane stopped at the intersection attempting to turn left onto Washington Street.

When O'Connor passed the trash truck, the boy rolled out in front of her on the scooter, McCorry said.

"The operator tried to stop," McCorry said. "Because of the wet road, she slid and struck the boy."

Stephen was lying on the road when police and firefighters arrived. Deputy fire Chief James Coughlin said the Fire Department responded so quickly because a witness to the crash struck a fire alarm box located at the intersection.

The Main and Washington streets intersection is heavily traveled during the morning and evening commute. Located a few blocks from Peabody Square, the crossing connects Route 128 and Salem and is also a link for motorists heading to and from Swampscott via Aborn Street.

Coughlin said Stephen had a serious leg injury, and that the bone was sticking out of the boy's leg after the crash. The police report did not say if he was wearing a helmet.

No one answered the door at the Mavroules home on Beacon Street.

Police say O'Connor has not been charged and that the crash remains under investigation.