San Tan Valley, Arizona — An Arizona family is facing an agonizing wait after an 11-year-old boy was allegedly struck by a pickup truck while riding his push scooter near his home, leaving him with extensive injuries and requiring intensive medical care.
Ethan Turner was reportedly crossing the street when authorities say 46-year-old Gloenn Noordhof allegedly drove into him. According to Ethan’s mother, Tyra Turner, the pickup driver appeared to “barrel into” her son without pressing the brakes.
The crash reportedly happened on Monday, August 10, near the family’s home in San Tan Valley. Instead of remaining at the scene, the driver allegedly fled, leaving the injured child on the roadway.
Mom Heard Her Son Screaming in Pain
For Tyra Turner, the most devastating part of the incident came when she arrived at the crash scene.
She told a local news outlet that she heard “blood-curdling screams you never want to hear your child make, ever” as emergency responders worked on Ethan.
The family’s fundraising page described an equally heartbreaking scene, alleging that the driver fled and left Ethan “lying there on the burning asphalt screaming in pain.”
The family says Ethan suffered very extensive injuries and now faces a long road to recovery.
He is currently being treated at a hospital in Pinal County, where he has reportedly been placed on a ventilator and put into a medically induced coma.
Child Remains in Medically Induced Coma
Despite the severity of his injuries, Ethan’s family remains hopeful that he will survive.
According to the GoFundMe campaign created for the family, doctors expect Ethan to “pull through,” but he is facing multiple procedures and surgeries, followed by what could be a significant period of long-term care.
His mother said she recently experienced a small but emotional sign of progress.
“Yesterday was the first time I got to see any signs of Ethan in there,” Turner told. “He was able to give me a slight nod and squeeze my hand … He’s not been able to say anything to me.”
For a mother waiting beside her critically injured child, that small movement offered a moment of hope amid an otherwise devastating situation.
Driver Allegedly Fled After Crash
Turner said she remains furious that the person accused of hitting her son allegedly drove away instead of stopping to help.
“If you hit a dog … people stop,” she said. “You know, the fact that you hit a child, my child, and then left him on the road … I am extremely angry.”
The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office says investigators used license plate cameras to help track down the suspected driver. Noordhof was subsequently arrested and booked on suspicion of leaving the scene of a crash that caused injuries.
The arrest followed the alleged hit-and-run that left Ethan critically injured.
Family Says Ethan Faces Long Recovery
The family’s fundraiser says Ethan did nothing to cause the horrific situation and emphasizes the enormous physical and emotional burden now facing the child.
“Ethan didn’t ask for this, he didn’t ask to be hit by a car,” the GoFundMe states. “He didn’t ask for a grown man to leave him to die.”
His mother is also worried about what the crash will mean for her son long after he leaves the hospital.
“It’s my child and my child is going to suffer,” Turner said. “And this is traumatic. He’s gonna have to live with this for the rest of his life.”
For now, Ethan’s loved ones are focused on keeping him alive and supporting him through the surgeries and rehabilitation that may lie ahead.
The circumstances surrounding the crash and the driver’s alleged decision to leave the scene will now be addressed through the legal process. Meanwhile, the family continues asking for support as Ethan remains hospitalized and begins what could be a long and difficult recovery.
What are your thoughts on this heartbreaking hit-and-run case? Do you think drivers who leave injured children at crash scenes should face much tougher consequences? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
