Earlier this week we reported on a 12-year-old boy who was hit by a vehicle on Monday as he walked across Jamerson Road near Davis Elementary School.
His mother updated the situation on a fundraising page set up for his medical expenses, and she said has been in intensive-care at Children’s Hospital of Atlanta, and has several surgeries as he recovers.
Preston Veal is a rising 7th grader at Mabry Middle School and is involved in the Lassiter Junior youth football program, but he suffered numerous broken bones and internal injuries in the crash.
“The surgery on his femur was successful. Surgery on his aorta had to be postponed due to a liver laceration and the risk of further bleeding, but thankfully, the aortic bleeding stopped on its own,” Bernice Veal wrote during the week in a GoFundMe appeal that has raised more than $27,000 thus far.
“His fractured ribs are healing, and his severely bruised lungs are improving. A rod was placed in his left leg, and once he’s stronger, additional surgeries may follow. Just today, he sat up on the side of the bed with help from physical therapy, and he is no longer on the ventilator.”
Bernice Veal said her son went to the school Monday afternoon to shoot basketball and was walking back home in a crosswalk when he was struck by a Ford Transit van. The driver was not hurt, according to Cobb Police, but Preston was thrown onto a sidewalk and a grass embankment upon impact.
He was first rushed to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital before being airlifted to Children’s Hospital of Atlanta.
An East Cobb News reader wrote us to say she’s begun an online petition to improve pedestrian safety along that stretch of Jamerson near the school, as she and her family have experienced some dangers.
Courtney Chiang DiStefano is asking for a solar flashing light alert be added, along with crosswalk detectors, a chirping alert for pedestrians and for another crosswalk to be built to cover both sides of the school.
She said she and her family use the crosswalk often to visit grandparents and to go to classes as Davis, but “the lack of a protected crosswalk with sufficient signage and protection puts our children and neighbors at significant risk.”
DiStefano said vehicles routinely surpass the posted 45 mph speed limit, and sometimes are traveling around 65 mph. Cobb Police said they are still investigating the accident and haven’t elaborated on the possible cause or if speeding was a factor.
“This has been the most devastating, heartbreaking, and traumatic experience we’ve ever faced,” Bernice Veal wrote. “But in the midst of it all, we are grateful. We’re thankful that our son is still with us, and his sister is thankful she still has her big brother.”
Among the donors to Preston’s medical fund is the River Ridge Quarterback Club, a football booster club for that high school program in Cherokee County, and which contributed $250.
“Our entire program has you and your family in our thoughts and prayers,” the River Ridge message said.
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