11-year-old Utah boy in medically-induced coma after being hit while crossing street

ROY — An 11-year-old boy is fighting for his life after he was hit by a car while crossing the street near 1900 West and 4400 South in Roy Tuesday afternoon.

Jayson Strong, described by family as a "bubbly, bright little boy," was airlifted to Primary Children's Hospital with severe head trauma. He has since undergone two surgeries and is currently in a medically induced coma. His family said doctors are closely monitoring him and taking things hour by hour.

"There's a lot of swelling that occurred," Jayson's cousin, Riley Camomile said. "They removed part of his skull to relieve some of that."

The next 72 hours are critical, according to doctors Wednesday. Jayson is being kept sedated to help manage pain and allow his body the best chance to heal.

"It's easier for his body to heal if he's on life support," Camomile said.

Jayson was reportedly on his way to meet a friend when the accident occurred. Police have not yet confirmed whether the driver ran a red light, and the investigation is ongoing. For now, the family is focusing solely on Jayson's recovery.

Camomile shared her disbelief when she heard the news.

"I was just kind of thinking, like, how does that happen? How do you hit a child in the crosswalk," she said

She described Jayson as someone everyone wants to be friends with — full of energy, joy and kindness.

As the family keeps vigil by his side, they're asking the community for prayers and support.

"I think that his family would appreciate prayers," Camomile said.

A GoFundMe* has been set up to help the Strong family with medical expenses.

*KSL.com 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 advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.

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