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Receiving a mountain bike and helmets from the Turners Falls Fire Department and Montague Police Department is Christopher Ulloa, 15, right, and his mother, Luz Abarua. Christopher was struck by a vehicle on Sept. 26 while riding his bike. -
Receiving a mountain bike and helmets from the Turners Falls Fire Department and Montague Police Department is Christopher Ulloa, 15, who was struck by a truck while riding his bike in Turners Falls on Sept. 26. At left is his mother, Luz Abarua, and next to Christopher is Jimena de Pareja, who is the Spanish speaking liaison for the Montague schools. -
Receiving a mountain bike from the Turners Falls Fire Department and Montague Police Department is Christopher Ulloa, 15, who was struck by a truck while riding his bike in Turners Falls on Sept. 26. At left is his mother, Luz Abarua. Deputy Fire Chief Kyle Cogswell, in white, presented him with the bike on Thursday morning escorted by other firefighters and Montague Police Officer Dan Miner.
TURNERS FALLS — The Montague Police Department, Turners Falls Fire Department and Robert Charland, founder of charity organization Pedal Thru Youth, joined forces Thursday to give a new mountain bike to the boy who was hit by a truck on Millers Falls Road last week.
Although battered and scraped up, 15-year-old Christopher Ulloa was able to be present to accept the gift beside his mother and aunt at the residence where they are staying. Deputy Fire Chief Kyle Cogswell, speaking on behalf of the small group of emergency personnel in attendance, expressed gratitude that Christopher was alright before wheeling over the bike and handing over two helmets, one for Christopher and one for his brother.
“The firefighters and police officers, we were very concerned with everything that went on and we wish you the best,” Cogswell told Christopher. “If you need something, reach out to us, OK? We’ll help you out.”
Cogswell said he recently reached out to Charland with hopes of “reinvigorating” the Fire Department’s distribution of bicycle helmets to schoolchildren. In the past, Charland had provided helmets to the department through his nonprofit. Then, when Charland heard from Cogswell about Christopher getting hit by a truck while riding his bicycle on Sept. 26, the Springfield resident felt inclined to do more.
“Kyle Cogswell called me about a kid in [Turners Falls] that got hit by a car riding his bike,” Charland wrote in a Facebook post. “This firefighter didn’t have to do this, but him reaching out to me truly showed how much he cares about those he serves.”
Charland donated 10 helmets to the department, as well as Christopher’s new OYMA Power mountain bike.
The Sept. 26 incident saw emergency responders be dispatched to the area of Millers Falls Road near the intersection of Unity Street and Turners Falls Road shortly before 3:30 p.m. The vehicle that struck the cyclist, a white Chevrolet commercial truck carrying brush and towing a trailer, appeared to have left skid marks on the road as the driver tried to stop in the area of a crosswalk. The truck remained parked with the bike underneath its front bumper as both Montague Police and State Police investigated for more than two hours.
State Police continue to investigate the incident and no charges have been filed, according to Northwestern District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Laurie Loisel.
Christopher, who was airlifted to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield after the collision, said he was heading to a friend’s house accompanied by his brother and a group of friends on the afternoon he was hit. He recalled trailing his brother on his bicycle when he approached the crosswalk. He said one car, headed north, stopped as he attempted to cross. He didn’t see the southbound truck as he was crossing before it hit him, he continued. He recalled blacking out after being struck and he doesn’t remember what happened afterwards.
Despite State Police reporting his injuries were “life-threatening” the day after the collision, Christopher was walking unassisted and said he was not in severe pain Wednesday morning. Interpreted by Spanish speaking liaison Jimena de Pareja, Christopher’s mother, Luz Abarua, and aunt, Altagracia Abarua, said Christopher has no confirmed broken bones, but has two loose teeth, stitches inside and outside of his mouth, a swollen right hand and an unknown foot injury, in addition to his visible scrapes and bruises. He will continue to be evaluated at the Springfield hospital, where doctors will further investigate potential bone breakage.
“I can move my body and stuff,” Christopher said. “It hurts a little bit.”
Additionally, the Abaruas said Christopher has been suffering some short-term memory issues and cognitive processing difficulties following his hospitalization.
Pareja, who works for the Gill-Montague Regional School District, said Christopher, a sophomore at Turners Falls High School, is eager to return to school, but must first be medically cleared to do so.
Christopher’s family is accepting monetary donations, as well as food and other supplies, as they deal with medical expenses. Pareja explained that the family does not yet have their own housing after relocating to Turners Falls from Florida in late July. They have been living with a relative while searching.
To inquire about donating, contact Pareja at 413-325-4149.
Reach Julian Mendoza at jmendoza@recorder.com.