Archives > Allen American > News
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
Boy CareFlighted from skate park
By Troy Brakefield, Staff Writer
A 12-year-old boy skating caught more air than he may have expected when he ended getting a ride on a CareFlight helicopter Friday.
Alex Miossec was skate-boarding at The Edge at Allen Station Park Friday afternoon when he crashed with another park goer, according to witnesses.
He was coming down a wall when he got hit by “a kid on a bike” who didn’t see him coming, said witness Parker Kyle.
“He turned over on his stomach and wouldn’t roll over,” another witness said. “He was bleeding from his nose.”
According to Allen Fire Department reports, emergency responders were dispatched about 2:45 p.m. Witnesses said Miossec was bleeding from the back of his head.
“They said he might have a broken neck and skull,” Kyle said.
“All I know is, I’ll pray he does OK and pulls out of it tonight,” another witness said.
Emergency responders evacuated the skate park for “about 15 minutes” before placing the boy on a stretcher and taking him to a waiting ambulance. He was then transferred to a CareFlight helicopter waiting in the street in front of the Senior Recreation Center, witnesses said.
Miossec was flown to Children’s Hospital of Dallas, where he stayed overnight for observation, his mother, Dena Miossec, said.
“They said he had a skull fracture behind the left ear,” Dena said. “He was talking — and vomiting.”
Dena also said her son remained conscious, but was suffering from hearing loss. She said doctors thought it would be temporary and her son would go back in two weeks for a check-up.
Allen Parks and Recreation Department officials said skaters use the facility at their own risk.
“Skaters are not required to wear helmets, although it is highly recommended,” said Lori Smeby, assistant director of Parks and Recreation. “We do encourage the use of safety equipment.”
“In our signs, we try to encourage positive behavior through a positive approach as opposed to a negative,” she said. “It’s an extreme activity.”
Park rules posted on the Parks and Recreation Web site state: “Protective gear (helmets, knee, elbow and wrist pads) is strongly recommended. (Injuries are no fun.) Look before you go…don’t drop in on others…wait your turn! (Like Mom always says…play nice.)”
“In the summer we host several camps, and during those camps, … we touch on safety, wearing a helmet,” said Shane Power, youth program supervisor at the skate park. “But unfortunately, where we don’t have a rule that forces the wearing of pads and things like that, we get a fair amount that do and a fair amount that don’t.”
Power said that he and his employees occasionally hand out gift certificates to local restaurants when they see skaters wearing their protective gear. He also said when professional skaters come to the park for demonstrations, the park requests them to wear gear to set a positive example for the park goers.
“If anything comes from this, it’s that maybe some more kids will wear their helmets,” Dena said. “… unlike mine this time.”
Contact Troy Brakefield at tbrakefield@acnpapers.com
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: News «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
