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Soroco student still in ICU

McCoy teen hit by car on Halloween regains consciousness

Melinda Dudley

— A Soroco High School sophomore remains in intensive care at a Denver hospital, police say, after he was hit by a car Halloween night on Colorado Highway 131 in Oak Creek.

McCoy resident Josh Ford, 17, was faring much better Friday than earlier this week, his mother, Rebecca Wood, said. Ford has been brought out of a chemically induced coma and was “conscious but confused,” Wood said.

It is unknown how long Ford will remain hospitalized, Wood said Friday. His injuries include a broken vertebra and swelling in his brain.



According to the Colorado State Patrol, Ford was hit by an unknown vehicle at about 11:30 p.m. Oct. 31 on Colo. 131, just south of the entrance to Soroco High School in Oak Creek. The evidence on scene indicated that Ford was lying in the northbound lane of the highway and was struck by the undercarriage of a vehicle, Trooper Brett Hilling said.

Wood has disputed State Patrol’s account of the accident, suggesting her son’s injuries are more consistent with being struck by an object, such as a side-view mirror, and then being thrown to the ground.



The accident still is under investigation. The speed limit in the area of the accident is 40 mph. Because of curves in the road, a driver going that speed would have only about two seconds to recognize something in the road and stop, Hilling said.

“We’re thinking the driver may not have known he ran anything over,” Hilling said Thursday.

Yampa resident Steve Padilla, 19, was with Ford when the accident occurred. Padilla told investigators he thought the vehicle may have been a white pickup. Padilla and Ford apparently were heading home from a party in the 400 block of Grant Avenue in Oak Creek.

A counselor has been made available to Ford’s classmates at Soroco High School who want to talk about the accident. Students are handling it “surprisingly well,” Principal Dennis Alt said.

“The kids here are very resilient,” Alt said.

– To reach Melinda Dudley, call 871-4203

or e-mail mdudley@steamboatpilot.com


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