A 72-year-old Waipahu woman remained in critical condition yesterday after being struck by a pickup truck with an 11-year-old boy at the wheel.

Police said the woman was hit in the front yard of her family home after the pickup crashed through a hollow-tile wall and toppled a wrought-iron fence early Saturday evening in Waipahu.

The boy's father also was hurt in the accident, apparently when he tried to stop the pickup, which backed down a driveway at the family home, crossed the road and slammed into a neighbor's wall.

The woman apparently was standing behind the wall when she was hit, witnesses said.

The boy's mother, Fuatino Laulu, said yesterday that her son, Paul, was too shaken up to recall or talk about details of the accident. "He's scared and confused," she said.

The boy's father, 42-year-old Antonio Laulu, said he was standing next to the truck and teaching his son about driving when the accident occurred. Laulu was injured when his foot and leg were run over by the family's 2002 Nissan pickup as he tried to stop it from rolling down the driveway.

"It all happened so fast; I'm not really sure what happened," Fuatino Laulu said.

Yesterday afternoon, Antonio Laulu declined to talk about the accident. "He's all bust up and hurting," his wife said.

However, earlier in the day, he told reporters that he had tried to apologize to the family of the woman who was hurt. "It shouldn't have happened that way. It was my mistake," he said.

The accident occurred at 94-1211 Huakai Street, near Mahoe Street. Because it was on private property, police said it was being classified as a nontraffic case.

Alcohol and speed did not appear to be factors, police added.

Reach Mike Leidemann at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.