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PAYSON — The family of a man critically injured in a sledgehammer assault near a residential Payson day care on Friday has created a donation fund for the man’s growing medical expenses, Payson police said Tuesday.
Benjamin Partridge, 41, of Payson, suffered critical injuries after a 17-year-old boy assaulted him with a sledgehammer, leaving Partridge with a fractured skull, hip, and rib, a collapsed lung, internal organ damage, eye injuries and other injuries as well, police said.
Partridge was flown to a hospital via medical helicopter in critical condition. As of Tuesday he remained in the intensive care unit and was stable but still listed in critical condition.
The alleged teenage assailant, whose name has not been released by police, turned himself in about 4 a.m. Saturday.
He was booked into the Slate Canyon Youth Detention Center on investigation of attempted aggravated murder, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated child abuse, burglary, obstruction of justice, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct.
Following the assault on Partridge, police say the teen then attacked another adult and small children at a nearby residential day care facility. A relative and neighbors have said that they did not know the attacker.
On Monday, a family member told KSL that Partridge had started showing some signs of progress but things were still touch and go.
“What we hear from some of the minor responses gives us a lot of hope that at least there’s something there,” Partridge’s brother Justin Curtis said. “We’re hoping that things will turn out good.”
Those looking to donate to the family’s medical expenses can visit a GoFundMe for Partridge or Venmo @Benjamin-Partridge-5.*
*KSL does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
