TRINITY, Fla. — The 6-year-old boy struck by a vehicle in Pasco County Thursday evening remains hospitalized.
A hospital spokesperson said Domanic Keyes is in serious condition but doing better than when he arrived last night.
According to Pasco County Fire Rescue, the crash occurred at the intersection of Starkey Boulevard and Lake Blanche Drive.
- Witnesses said child was in costume, intersection lit
- Speed limit on roadway 40 mph
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Witnesses said the Keyes was walking through the crosswalk when he was struck by a pickup truck.
According to a PCFR official, Keyes suffered a severe laceration to the head and was transported from the scene to an area hospital as a trauma alert.
Witnesses also said the boy was dressed in costume for Halloween, and that the intersection was lit up at the time of the crash. Keyes was one of many children out with their families to trick-or-treat for the holiday.
The high volume of children and families out on neighborhood streets for the holiday made the fact that the crash happened at all even more surprising to some who witnessed the crash.
"On a night like this, you'd think people would be more cautious, because there are kids out and stuff," said witness Robin Gourlay, who said she and her family weren't far from the crosswalk when the crash occurred. "It just makes me want to hold my baby closer, because anything could happen."
Salon owners collecting donations for family
Tim Shea, who co-owns the nearby Beauty Lounge of Trinity, was one of the first people to get to the scene after the crash.
“Heard a screech, and then I heard a thump, and so I immediately ran here to Starkey Blvd. and saw a little kid laying in the road,” Shea told us Friday.
Shea said once he reached Keyes he did what he could to keep they boy calm.
"The only thing I told him was "everything's going to be OK, everything's going to be OK," Shea explained.
Jennifer Pistoni, who works at the salon and also ran to the scene following the crash, said the moments following the sound of the crash felt like they were frozen in time.
"Nobody was moving," Pistoni explained. "Everyone was just staring, and I kept thinking, "Dear Lord, please don't let that be what I think it is."
Following the crash, Shea picked up Keyes' trick-or-treat bucket, which was left at the scene after he was transported to the hospital. He now has it at the salon, where they're using it to collect donations to pay for a patrol next Halloween at the intersection where the crash occurred.
The rest of the money they collect will go to Keyes' family.
“We really need to get a traffic light at this intersection," Shea said. "There’s thousands of cars coming by here now."
Donations can be mailed or dropped off at the salon, located at 3104 Town Avenue, Unit 105, Trinity, Florida 34655.
Expressing thanks to community
The driver of the truck remained at the scene following the crash. There's been no word yet from authorities if charges against him are forthcoming.
Keyes' parents have expressed thanks to the community for the outpouring of concern for their son.