AVON, Conn. (WFSB/Gray News) – A man who is accused of hitting a teenager who was riding a bike is facing more charges.
Alex Rivera, 30, allegedly hit Liam Shields, 16, and kept driving with the boy on the hood of the car for more than four miles on Oct. 4.
Authorities say Rivera ultimately stopped the car, pushed Liam off of the car and drove off.
“The court thinks there really was an extreme and grave indifference to the life of the individual because things could’ve been different,” said Judge Paul Doyle, Hartford Superior Court. “The circumstances are very very troubling.”
Rivera now faces an additional charge of assault in the first degree.
Authorities were called to the scene on Oct. 4 after reports of debris on the road. When they arrived, they found Liam’s bike, candy and a cellphone on the road. Officers determined that a driver had hit a bicyclist and closed the road to investigate.
Shortly after, they got a call that an injured teenager was on the side of the road more than four miles away.
Liam is still in critical condition at the hospital.
Attorney Keith Trantolo, who is representing Liam and his family, says Liam’s condition is not improving. There is now concern that he has a spinal cord injury and has been suffering multiple brain bleeds.
“It has not improved. It is actually going the other way,” Trantolo said. “I know the parents’ biggest concern is that the injuries that this young man has sustained could’ve been reduced. Some of them may have altogether not been realized had this young man not been ejected from the top of the roof.”
Liam is a high school sophomore and plays on the soccer and basketball teams at his school.
A GoFundMe set up for Liam has raised more than $75,000.
Rivera is also charged with risk of injury to a child, evading responsibility with serious physical injury and driving without a license. He is still in custody with a $500,000 bond, up from the original $100,000.
Copyright 2024 WFSB via Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.