A 7-year-old boy is breathing on his own again and no longer in a medically induced coma after he was critically injured in a crash involving his dirt bike and an SUV near McHenry.
The McHenry Township Fire Protection District and McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded around 9:50 a.m. Wednesday to the 5200 block of North Lake Street in unincorporated McHenry for a vehicle crash.
A 911 caller reported a child riding a bike had been struck by a vehicle and was possibly not breathing.
Emergency crews arrived to find a juvenile who was lying in the roadway and not responsive.
The crash occurred in the intersection of North Lake Street and West Pleasant View Drive and the Toyota had been traveling northbound.
A LifeNet medical helicopter was requested to the incident due to the child’s injuries, according to McHenry Township Fire Protection District Battalion Chief David Harwood.
An ambulance transported the victim to the Johnsburg High School where a landing zone had been set up in the parking lot.
The helicopter landed a short time later and the child, who suffered critical injuries, was transferred to the helicopter.
Harwood said the helicopter flew the juvenile to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, which is a Level 1 trauma center and has a children’s hospital.
The driver of the Toyota declined medical attention.
The sheriff’s office said the crash involved a 2018 Toyota Highlander and the child, who had been riding a Razor MX350 dirt bike.
Sheriff’s officials said Friday the child suffered life-threatening injuries and was in critical condition.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Major Traffic Crash Investigation Unit responded and deputies had set up caution tape around the crash scene at North Lake Street and West Pleasant View Drive as the unit investigated throughout the morning into the afternoon.
The driver of the Toyota was cited for failing to drive on the right side of a two-lane road.
Court records show the driver of the Toyota was Trixy M. Hain, 68, of McHenry. Hain lives on the same block where the crash occurred.
McHenry resident JD Sylvanus, who is a family friend of the victim, said the 7-year-old boy, Alex Moscrip, is a student in the Johnsburg School District and was struck by the vehicle while near his home.
Sylvanus said that Moscrip underwent brain surgery on Wednesday and is getting stronger every day.
“He’s made a lot of progress in the past few days. He can move his arms and legs, his eyes are good, lungs are good,” Sylvanus said.
The boy is no longer in a medically induced coma as of Monday and he is breathing on his own. Doctors have removed his breathing tube.
Sylvanus said the doctors and nurses are amazed at how well Moscrip is recovering in such a short time.
Moscrip opened his eyes a few times on Monday. The boy is expected to remain hospitalized for approximately five more weeks before being transferred to another facility for five more weeks of rehabilitation.
Sylvanus added that Moscrip has a “long road to recovery. He created a GoFundMe account to help raise money for the family.
The fundraiser has already collected over $15,000.
Sheriff’s officials said the investigation remains ongoing with the Major Traffic Crash Investigation Unit and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).
“This is an open investigation which could lead to additional charges,” the sheriff’s office said.
Hain is scheduled to appear in court for a plea hearing on August 20.