A tragic day for the Heart of Texas Junior Cycling team is highlighting the resilience of two young athletes facing life-altering challenges.

WACO, Texas — What started as a typical Friday for a Central Texas youth cycling team quickly turned into a day families say they will never forget.

Within hours of each other, two members of the Heart of Texas Junior Cycling team were hospitalized — one after being struck by a truck in a hit-and-run crash, and another after receiving a life-altering cancer diagnosis.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS), troopers responded around 5:30 p.m. Feb. 6 to a crash on FM 2957 near Pep Club Road in Hallsburg. Investigators say a Chevrolet Silverado traveling westbound struck a bicyclist and drove away from the scene. Authorities later located the vehicle and its driver.

The cyclist was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. The driver was also taken to a hospital for treatment. The investigation remains ongoing.

Heart of Texas Junior Cycling head coach Brady Gibson said the teen, 16 year-old Walker Carroll, had been riding with a teammate during a training session when the crash happened.

“He was moving over into single file when he was hit from behind,” Gibson said. “He was thrown ahead, and his teammate didn’t even know where he was at first.”

A nurse happened to arrive shortly after the crash and was able to stabilize Carroll until first responders arrived, Gibson said.

Carroll suffered severe injuries, including a traumatic brain injury requiring emergency surgery to relieve swelling, a burst fracture in his spine, a broken fibula and tailbone and internal injuries to his organs.

“It’s a life-changing event for him,” Gibson said. “This is a year-long recovery process for sure.”

Carroll’s father, Dan Carroll, said his son has not regained consciousness since the crash.

“They removed part of his skull to drain the brain bleed and make room for the swelling,” Carroll said. “There’s no way to quantify when he will regain consciousness. We’re in a holding pattern right now.”

Carroll said the family is leaning on faith and community support while waiting for progress.

“In a world where there is so much bad, it’s refreshing to meet so many people with so much good,” he said.

Earlier that same afternoon — just hours before the crash — another teammate, 13-year-old Colton Young, was diagnosed with leukemia.

Young’s mother, Tamara Moore, said the diagnosis came rapidly after abnormal lab results prompted an urgent hospital visit.

“Within five hours he was getting a blood transfusion,” Moore said. “By Thursday he had biopsies, and by Friday at 3:30 I was told he had leukemia.”

Colton, an eighth grader at Lorena Middle School, had been an active competitive cyclist. Moore said looking back, the warning signs were there.

“He was always tired and didn’t want to ride,” she said. “I thought it was just a 13-year-old being lazy. But he had cancer in his body then — and he was still climbing hills at Cameron Park.”

Colton has already begun chemotherapy and has required multiple blood transfusions. Doctors say treatment will be long-term.

“For Colton, this is a multi-year recovery process,” Gibson said.

Families say the timing — both tragedies happening the same day — has been especially difficult.

“It was 3:30 when I got Colton’s diagnosis, and just a couple of hours later Walker was fighting for his life,” Moore said. “I want all of that healing for Walker too.”

The cycling team and Central Texas community have rallied around both boys. More than 50 people filled a hospital waiting room praying the night of the crash, according to Gibson. Strangers have also reached out to Colton’s family with meals and financial help.

“They might not be blood, but they are my family,” Moore said. “I’m stronger with them.”

The team has created online support pages and is planning a benefit event to help both families with medical and long-term recovery expenses.

Gibson said the team plans to dedicate its season to both teens.

“This is an endurance sport,” Gibson said. “And this is going to be an endurance battle for them, but this community believes they’re going to get through it.”

Those who wish to send monetary donations can donate to Young at this link and Carroll at this link.