A 16-year-old cyclist from Central Texas is in critical condition after being struck by a pickup truck during a training run Friday evening, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Walker Carroll, a member of the Heart of Texas Junior Cycling team, was riding along a road in Hallsburg when the collision occurred.
Carroll’s father, Dan Carroll, stated his son remains nonresponsive but is currently stable. “The fact that he lived is an absolute intervention of an almighty God that said it’s not his time,” he said. Carroll was preparing for a race in Fort Worth at the time of the incident, training alongside a teammate.
Authorities say the driver of the pickup truck initially left the scene but was later located with assistance from a family member who came forward with information. According to Dan Carroll, the driver was unlicensed, and the vehicle was both uninsured and unregistered. As of Monday, no arrests had been made, and the investigation is ongoing.
The impact sent Carroll accelerating to nearly 78 mph, according to GPS data from his bicycle. He sustained numerous severe injuries, most critically a traumatic brain injury requiring neurosurgeons to remove a portion of his skull, his father reported.
The incident comes amidst another hardship for the Heart of Texas Junior Cycling team, as another teen member was recently diagnosed with leukemia, according to reports. The team is currently grappling with both hospitalizations.
