UPDATE: Sadly, 9-year-old Anthony died Wednesday morning after spending more than a week fighting for his life in the hospital.
The community is raising money for Anthony’s family to help pay for hospital bills and funeral expenses. To help, click here.
ORIGINAL STORY BELOW
DESCHUTES COUNTY Ore. (KPTV) – A Portland youth soccer community is asking for help after two young players on their team were involved in a serious crash over the weekend near Bend.
The collision that occurred on Saturday at Tumalo Road and Highway 97 involved two cars and five individuals. According to reports, the driver of the Toyota Prius carrying the two boys attempted an unsafe turn onto Tumalo Road from Highway 97, losing control of the vehicle and colliding with a Ford F350 pickup. Nine-year-old Anthony is in the hospital, fighting for his life, while eight-year-old Diego is recuperating at home. “Everyone is concerned about our players at this moment,” stated Armando Ramirez, assistant coach of Leon PDX minor soccer. “We are limited to praying.” Hilario Ormos, the team’s head coach, stated that he had known both youngsters for a few years.
“Not only are you coaching them, but you’re teaching them,” Ormos said. “I treat them as my kids, and as my family.”
Ormos stated, “We were praying they were okay and nothing bad happened to them. But the boys’ wounds proved to be severe, and 8-year-old Diego was taken to a Bend, Oregon, hospital. Due to his more serious condition, 9-year-old Anthony was evacuated to OHSU in Portland, where he is still in critical condition. “At this point, all we can hope for is that he’s going to be alright and that he’s going to get through this,” Ormos stated. Ormos stated that Diego is now free.
As for Anthony, the parents of other boys on the team have gathered at the hospital to support him as he fights for his life.
“The support that all of the parents have shown since the accident, there’s no words to describe it,” Ormos said. “It’s amazing. Everybody knows them well because they’re good, happy kids. We treat them as a family
.”
Ormos said their team has banded together to help the young boys as they fight and have started a GoFundMe on their behalf.
“Their parents are going to be out of work for a while attending to their kids and the needs of their kids,” Ormos said. “We feel as a group a group and as a community that we need to support them in the best way we can.”
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