Lafayette teen fights for recovery after getting hit by a car on his way to school

LAFAYETTE, Colo. — A 16-year-old boy remains in the intensive care unit after being struck by a car while riding his bike to school in Lafayette. His mother, Heather Graham, believes the accident should never have happened.

That week, Myers Graham became the second student in two days to be struck by a car on Baseline Road. The 16-year-old sophomore was biking to Centaurus High School with his friends, as he did every day. On the morning of Sept. 6, his mother said he took every precaution that day.

“He was wearing his helmet, he was with his friends and they pushed the button for the flashing light,” she said. “He was doing exactly what he was supposed to do.”

Now, two weeks later, Myers has not returned to class. Instead, he and his mother have been at Good Samaritan Medical Center, where he remains hospitalized. He is struggling to regain his ability to speak.

In addition to undergoing surgeries for a fractured clavicle and the removal of his spleen, Myers sustained a traumatic brain injury in the accident.

“Sometimes he’s awake, sometimes he’s sleeping,” she said. “He’s opening his eyes, he’s not speaking, but I know he’s there.”

Myers, who had recently received his driver’s permit, is described by his mother as a joy to all who know him. She says his hospital room is filled with cards, flowers and posters from friends and loved ones, offering messages of support.

In response to the incident, concerned parents from the community have begun volunteering as crossing guards for students during school hours. While Graham is grateful for the community’s efforts, she insists that the accident was preventable and calls for improved safety measures at the crosswalks on Baseline Road.

The hospital has become a second home for the mother, who says it has been difficult to witness the drastic changes in her son’s life. Yet, she remains hopeful.

“He’s a fighter. He’s the most positive person I know, and he knows I’m there,” she said. “I’m going to wait for him. It’s just going to take a very long time, but he’s making progress. Every day is a little bit better.”