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The 11-year-old boy critically injured by an explosion on Pioneer Day returned to surgery on Monday. A spokesperson for Primary Children's Medical Center tells KSL doctors have been able to reattach the boy's leg.
Bridger Hunt went into surgery late this morning, and at 10 p.m. he was still in the operating room. He was expected to remain there until about 4 a.m.
Bridger was hit by shrapnel July 24 when neighbor Craig Miller lit a homemade explosive devise and it exploded. Bridger suffered war-like wounds to his abdomen, pelvis and leg. Today's surgery could determine whether his leg has to be amputated.
We got our first look today at a piece of shrapnel recovered from the scene of the explosion. Police say it is similar to what struck Bridger as he was riding his bicycle about 30 feet away.
While Bridger's condition has stabilized, six surgeries later, his left leg remained in jeopardy. Even if doctors can save his leg, it will never completely heal.
"He will always have to wear a brace on his leg, walk with some kind of walker or cane. He is a skateboarder, so that breaks my heart," said Mindy Carter-Shaw, Bridger's mother.
Bridger has been in a drug-induced coma because of the severe pain. His mother says he'll wake up every once in a while and doesn't know where he is.
"It hurts me when I see him start to panic because he's got a tube down his throat. He's literally tied down to the bed," Carter-Shaw said. "He wakes up. He doesn't know where he is yet. He does remember the incident happening. He thinks he's just broken his leg. He doesn't have any clue how bad his injuries are."
Bridger's mother is requesting more hopeful e-mails and letters that she can read to her son. "He can hear. He is awake. He's just not able to move or speak or talk. I read them to him. He needs them," she said.
Lehi police have finished the investigation into the explosion and are meeting this afternoon with prosecutors about possible charges.
Former prosecutor Greg Skordas says they'll consider Utah law when it comes to incendiary devises, possible negligence, recklessness and intent.
"If the person acts intentionally, obviously there's a very clear violation of the law. If they act recklessly, or what we call 'negligently,' with criminal negligence, then we have to ask ourselves, 'Is that really a gross deviation from what a normal person would do,'" Skordas said.
One possibility is a felony charge of making an incendiary device. But whatever charges are decided upon, they are expected to be filed by the end of this week. Miller will then be issued a summons to appear in court.
Eyewitness News contacted Miller today, but he declined to talk about what happened.
You can e-mail Bridger at bridgerhunt11@yahoo.com
E-mail: spenrod@ksl.com
E-mail: ngonzales@ksl.com
E-mail: mgiauque@ksl.com
