High school cross-country runner struck in hit-and-run during practice, AL cops say
A high school student was rushed to the hospital after being hit by a vehicle during a morning cross-country practice in Alabama, officials said.
The Huntsville Police Department responded to a hit-and-run around 6:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9, involving a 16-year-old-pedestrian, police said in a statement.
The 16-year-old, later identified as Chandler Drouin, suffered life-threatening injuries and was immediately taken to Huntsville Hospital, officers said. According to a post on Alabama Runners, Drouin had multiple broken bones, including his tibia, fibula, ribs, clavicle and eye socket.
“We truly ... (can’t) thank you all enough for your continued prayers over Chandler and his Grissom Cross Country Team,” Drouin’s mother, Nicole, said in an Oct. 13 Facebook post. “I wanted to share how it is also so important to lift his team and coaches in prayer. They were with him during the accident and has to see it all unfold.”
His cross-country team wore green ribbons to show their support at their latest meet, she said in the post.
Huntsville City Schools sent a message to families of the cross-country team after the incident, AL.com reported.
“We are in close contact with the student’s family and will continue to offer them our full support during this difficult time. If any students feel the need for emotional support, our school counselor is available to speak with them,” the district said.
According to Huntsville police, “the suspect vehicle fled the scene, but witnesses provided a detailed description that led to officers locating the vehicle and driver.”
Jarod Monroe Severance, 21, was arrested on charges of second-degree assault and leaving the scene of an accident with death or personal injury, police said.
This story was originally published October 14, 2024 at 6:36 PM with the headline "High school cross-country runner struck in hit-and-run during practice, AL cops say."
