SUNBURY, Ohio — A Big Walnut Local Schools student was seriously injured during the district’s homecoming parade Friday, Sept. 30.  

​The Ohio State Highway Patrol said an 11-year-old boy, who Spectrum News is not identifying due to him being a minor, was struck by a homecoming float on North Miller Drive at approximately 6:52 p.m.

Officials said a 78-year-old man was operating a black Ford F-350 and trailer while the 11-year-old was walking parallel with the truck and parade float. He fell to his left and was hit by the trailer tires.

He was then transferred by Delaware EMS to Nationwide Children’s Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The boy’s aunt said he has several facial bone fractures, a pelvic fracture, broken ribs and a laceration to his liver.

In a written statement, Big Walnut Superintendent Ryan McLane said, “I want to thank our staff, students and community members who were on the scene and assisted when the event happened, as well as the Delaware County EMS, BST&G Fire Department, the Sunbury Police Department, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.”

The night of the incident, McLane left a voicemail to families in the district asking them to send “positive vibes” to the boy.

Additional counselors were available at the intermediate school to provide support to students Monday.

Family members started a GoFundMe page the day after the incident, raising more than $80,000.

“He is critically stable, still not many changes. He did squeeze my hand when I asked and that’s huge right now. Please keep praying,” his aunt wrote on the GoFundMe page.

The crash remains under investigation, but alcohol is not a suspected factor, according to the state patrol.​​