LA MESA, Calif. (KGTV) — A teenager is recovering in the hospital after colliding with a trash truck on his way to school Thursday.
The crash occurred as Caleb Carvalho was riding his bike along University Avenue toward Helix High School, where he was a freshman. Thursday was expected to be Caleb's first home game of the season.
Carvalho's parents say he was wearing a helmet when an EDCO truck made a sudden turn and hit him.
"Without a blinker, Caleb didn’t know the truck was turning," said his mother, Joss Carvalho. "He tried to swerve, but his bike got caught under the back tires."
Caleb suffered severe pelvic fractures and a femur fracture. He has undergone two surgeries and will spend the next eight weeks on bed rest, missing the entire football season.
His parents say Caleb is very athletic and dreams of playing football in college. While they are hopeful for his recovery, it is too early to determine his full recovery potential. His parents and girlfriend report that he remains optimistic and even jokes with doctors.
EDCO provided the following statement regarding the crash:
"On behalf of the entire EDCO family, our thoughts are with the Helix High student and their family. We hope for a full and speedy recovery from the accident that occurred this morning. EDCO has a deep history of serving the City of La Mesa and is committed to operating safely. We are investigating the incident to understand how it happened and how to prevent future accidents."
To support the Carvalho family, follow this link to a GoFundMe campaign benefiting them.
