GMS student upgraded to serious at Pitt
By Kenneth Fine
Published in News on December 5, 2005 1:49 PM
Carson Thomas, one of two Greenwood Middle School students hospitalized Nov. 18 after being hit by a sports utility vehicle, was upgraded to serious condition Sunday, a spokesman for Pitt Memorial said.
Thomas, 13, was injured when the driver of the white SUV allegedly ran a red light across from the school, the police report said.
The driver, who identified himself as "Luis Delgado Jesus," is currently being held in Wayne County Jail under $200,000 secured bond and faces charges of reckless driving, driving with a revoked license, driving with expired registration and two felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.
Law enforcement officials said numerous people have attempted to bail "Jesus" out of jail, but he has not been released because his identity is in question.
The man's identity and citizenship status are being investigated by local law enforcement with the help of officials from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an arm of the Department of Homeland Security.
Mackenzie Wessels, the other injured student was treated and released after less than a week at Pitt Memorial, officials said.
Students and faculty at Greenwood have undertaken many projects in a show of support for Carson and Mackenzie.
Some students drew pictures and made sweatshirts bearing the names of their injured classmates. Others wore stickers with pictures of both boys on their jackets, hats and backpacks.
Large cards and banners signed by members of the school community were sent to the boys before the Thanksgiving holiday.
Greenwood principal Larry Dean said news of Carson's upgrade from critical condition to serious was encouraging.
"For there to be an upgrade is simply wonderful," he said. "Our students are still very concerned and very much behind both Carson and Mackenzie."