Florida Boy in Critical Condition After Bicycle Accident
A 10-year-old boy in Florida is in a serious condition after being struck by two vehicles while riding his bike. His mother, filled with heartbreak, clings to hope even as her son remains in a coma.
Asher Thompson was placed in a drug-induced coma at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Tampa following the incident on State Route 52. He was hit by one car and subsequently struck by another after entering traffic. Reports indicate he was riding his bike when the accident occurred.
His mother, Jackie Almeida, expressed her desperation for a miracle. “I can only pray for a miracle because the doctors say there’s not much left to do,” she said, sharing that if Asher wakes up, he will require full-time medical care and may not be able to live independently.
“I literally had to step outside while the doctors were talking. I went to the bathroom and just screamed to God, ‘Help me, there’s nothing I can do. I can’t lose him,’” she recalled.
Almeida was at work during the accident and was alerted by witnesses before paramedics arrived. It’s reported that a caller performed CPR on Asher, who was then revived by emergency responders.
She was unsure why Asher was in the path of traffic, noting that he had been with his brother at a gas station moments prior. “Something happened that I’m not clear about, but Asher got scared, hopped on his bike, and took off,” she said. “He wasn’t thinking straight.”
The Florida Highway Patrol indicated that no charges have been filed against the drivers involved in the accident.
Almeida, by her son’s side, expressed no blame towards the drivers. “They have to live with what happened for the rest of their lives. I feel so sorry for them,” she commented.
“But it’s not their fault. It really isn’t. It’s no one’s fault. It’s just tragic when things like this occur. You never think it’ll happen to you,” she added, stating how difficult it would be to continue without her son.
“I always remind him that he’s the strongest, bravest boy I know, and he’s not alone in this fight. We’re all here for him. God’s got him, so he shouldn’t give up,” Almeida encouraged.
