Avon Teen Carried 4 Miles On Roof Of Vehicle After Crash: Police

AVON, CT — Local police Monday released new details regarding the hit-and-run accident that critically injured a local teen Friday night, along with an image of the suspect involved.

According to the Avon Police Department, a red Subaru Forester driven by Alex Joel Rivera trapped the teen bicyclist on the vehicle's roof and carried him 4 miles throughout local roads.

Police said Rivera hit the Avon High School sophomore near 11 Arch Road.

Rivera then stopped the vehicle, pushed the teen off the roof, and continued fleeing, according to the APD.

Rivera was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment; evading responsibility for serious physical injury; operating a motor vehicle without a license; and two counts of risk of injury to a child.

He was to be arraigned in Hartford Superior Court on Monday and police said additional charges may be pending.

The situation started Friday night, Oct. 4, at about 9:16 p.m. when police were called to investigate debris in the roadway.

Arriving police then found the teen's damaged bicycle, loose amounts of candy, and a cell phone in the road, police said.

At the time, police said the bicyclist could not be found, with Arch Road temporarily closed for investigation.

Shortly afterward, police received a call from a witness reporting an injured juvenile on the side of the roadway at 73 Harris Road.

That's when police determined the injured teen was, indeed, the bicyclist struck 4 miles away.

Police cited two "good Samaritans" for noticing a red, Subaru Forester pulled over on the side of the road, then noticing it was driving erratically a short time later.

"The good Samaritans decided to return to the area where they saw the Suburu a short time later because they felt something was wrong," wrote the APD. "They then found the injured juvenile on the side of the road and called 911."

The teen, after receiving aid from the witnesses, police, and emergency responders, was rushed to Hartford Hospital, where he is in critical condition.

Police said they determined the teen was a 10th-grader at Avon High School and school officials were notified so proper support could be arranged for students and staff.

The accident is still being investigated by the North Central Municipal Accident Reconstruction Team.

Meanwhile, police credited the witnesses who spotted the Suburu for their help.

"The Avon Police Department commends the good Samaritans for their actions and quick thinking during this incident," wrote police.

State Sen. Lisa Seminara, R-Avon, also credited the responders and good Samaritans for their action Friday and said she was praying for the high school student's recovery.

“Throughout Avon and the Farmington Valley, we are praying. As we pray, we thank God for the Good Samaritans in our community who saw something… and did something," Seminara said in a statement.

"And we thank law enforcement for swiftly taking action. We will pursue answers and accountability. But for now, we pray for this innocent victim.”

Anyone with information on the accident can contact the Avon Police Department at 860-409-4200.

To donate to a GoFundMe page set up for the teen's family, click on this link.

From Oct. 7: 'GoFundMe Set Up To Help Avon Teen's Family After Serious Accident'

From Oct 5: 'Man Charged In Hit-And-Run Accident In Avon Involving Bicyclist'