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Central Texas teen hospitalized with severe injuries after being hit by a pickup truck while riding his bike(Dan Carroll)<\/p>\nHALLSBURG, Texas (KWTX) – A 16-year-old Central Texas cyclist is in the hospital fighting for his life after being hit by a pickup truck while training for a race Friday evening.<\/p>\n
Walker Carroll was riding his bike along FM 2957, near Pep Club Road in Hallsburg, when he was hit from behind by a pickup truck. <\/p>\n
According to DPS, he was taken to the hospital in critical condition. His father, Dan Carroll, says while Walker\u2019s still non-responsive he is stable. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe fact that he lived is the absolute intervention of an almighty God that said it\u2019s not his time,\u201d he shared.<\/p>\n
Young cycling champion<\/p>\n
Since childhood Walker has been passionate about cycling. Carroll says he naturally took to bicycles, competing in his first race in sixth grade.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause he was new they started in the back, he started in 53rd place and he finished in the top 10,\u201d he recalled.<\/p>\n
Central Texas teen hospitalized with severe injuries after being hit by a pickup truck while riding his bike(Dan Carroll)<\/p>\n
Last year as a freshman, Walker won the UIL State Championship for the JV-1 Mountain Biking League. His father says this year he would have been on Varsity.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe that this season, which will actually be starting next weekend, he would\u2019ve been the only sophomore riding in the Varsity in UIL in the state of Texas,\u201d Carroll said.<\/p>\n
Hit-and-run investigation<\/p>\n
At the time of the accident Walker was training for a race that weekend in Fort Worth, riding with a friend and teammate.<\/p>\n
According to Carroll, GPS data from Walker\u2019s bicycle showed that from the point of impact to when he finally stopped he accelerated to almost 78 miles per hour.<\/p>\n
DPS said the driver initially left the scene but was located by authorities shortly after. Carroll says it was a family member of the driver that helped authorities identify him. <\/p>\n
\u201cFortunately one of the driver\u2019s family members witnessed some behavior and they thought that he was at fault,\u201d he shared, \u201cshe came to the scene, told the highway patrol that she believed one of her family members had done this.\u201d<\/p>\n
While DPS has not confirmed this Carroll adds that the driver was unlicensed, the vehicle uninsured and unregistered. DPS said Monday the investigation remains active and no arrest has been made at this time.<\/p>\n
Extensive injuries and surgery<\/p>\n
Walker suffered many severe injuries, but the most concerning was a traumatic brain injury. Carroll says neurosurgeons ended up having to take out a part of his skull. <\/p>\n
\u201cRight out of the ambulance they ushered him in,\u201d he recalled, \u201csoon as the neurosurgeon was here they removed a part of his skull so they could drain the brain bleeding and\u2026 make room for swelling.\u201c<\/p>\n
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Central Texas teen hospitalized with severe injuries after being hit by a pickup truck while riding his bike(Dan Carroll)<\/p>\n
Walker then underwent eight hours of surgery on Sunday to repair severe spinal injuries, surgeons fusing part of his spine. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey have fused his spine from T-4 to T-12, which is a lifelong fusion\u2026 he will be fused forever,\u201d Carroll shared.<\/p>\n
Family asks for prayers<\/p>\n
Doctors have told the family it\u2019s too early to be alarmed by Walker\u2019s non-responsive state, as brain injuries are difficult to gauge immediately.<\/p>\n
However, Carroll says this could have been prevented, urging drivers to be more careful on the roads.<\/p>\n
\u201cCyclists know the risks, but\u2026 these things are preventable, they\u2019re 100% preventable,\u201d he shared.<\/p>\n
Now all they can do is pray for another miracle, asking others to do the same. \u201cI just ask that they pray for Walker to wake up,\u201d Carroll said. <\/p>\n