16-year-old cyclist fighting for his life after he was hit by truck during training run

HALLSBURG, Texas (KWTX/Gray News) - The family of a 16-year-old Texas cyclist is praying for a miracle after he was hit by a pickup truck while training for a race, leaving him fighting for his life.

Walker Carroll, 16, was riding his bike Friday evening along a road in Hallsburg when he was hit from behind by a pickup truck. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The teenager’s father, Dan Carroll, says his son is still nonresponsive, but he is now stable.

“The fact that he lived is an absolute intervention of an almighty God that said it’s not his time,” Dan Carroll said.

Hit-and-run investigation

At the time he was hit, Walker Carroll was training for a race that weekend in Fort Worth, riding with a friend and teammate. His father says GPS data from the 16-year-old’s bike showed that from the point of impact to when he finally stopped, he accelerated to almost 78 mph.

DPS said the driver initially left the scene but was located by authorities shortly after. Dan Carroll says it was a family member of the driver that helped authorities identify him.

“Fortunately, one of the driver’s family members witnessed some behavior, and they thought that he was at fault,” he said. “She came to the scene, told the highway patrol that she believed one of her family members had done this.”

While DPS has not confirmed this, Dan Carroll says the driver was unlicensed, the vehicle uninsured and unregistered.

The investigation remained active as of Monday, and DPS said no arrest had been made.

Extensive injuries and surgery

Walker Carroll suffered many severe injuries, but the most concerning was a traumatic brain injury. His father says neurosurgeons ended up having to take out a part of his skull.

“Right out of the ambulance, they ushered him in,” Dan Carroll said. “Soon as the neurosurgeon was here, they removed a part of his skull, so they could drain the brain bleeding and… make room for swelling.“

The 16-year-old underwent eight hours of surgery Sunday to repair severe spinal injuries, with surgeons fusing part of his spine.

“They have fused his spine from T-4 to T-12, which is a lifelong fusion. He will be fused forever,” Dan Carroll said.

Young cycling champion

Since childhood, Walker Carroll has been passionate about cycling. His father says he naturally took to bicycles, competing in his first race in sixth grade.

“Because he was new, they started in the back. He started in 53rd place, and he finished in the top 10,” Dan Carroll said.

Last year as a freshman, Walker Carroll won the UIL State Championship for the JV-1 Mountain Biking League. His father says this year he would have been on varsity.

“We believe that this season, which will actually be starting next weekend, he would’ve been the only sophomore riding in the varsity in UIL in the state of Texas,” Dan Carroll said.

Family asks for prayers

Doctors have told Walker Carroll’s family it’s too early to be alarmed by the teen’s nonresponsive state, as brain injuries are difficult to gauge immediately.

However, Dan Carroll says this could have been prevented, urging drivers to be more careful on the roads.

“Cyclists know the risks, but… these things are preventable. They’re 100% preventable,” he said.

Now, all the family can do is pray for another miracle, asking others to do the same.

“I just ask that they pray for Walker to wake up,” Dan Carroll said.

A CaringBridge page has been set up for Walker Carroll, which is where the family is sharing updates on his condition.