Students and staff at Mt. Diablo High School in Concord came off a three-day holiday weekend only to learn that one of their own was in a horrible accident. The principal said 14-year-old freshman basketball player Joey Hornsby was hit by a car just down the road from the school. A parent says Hornsby was on his way to basketball practice and she knows a student who saw what happened.
"One of the kids was actually at the accident and the boy was unconscious. He was bleeding. So, he was feeling really bad so he posted it on Facebook. Maybe five other kids posted the article as well," said parent Eva Mitchell.
Concord police say Hornsby was in the crosswalk when he was hit around 1:30 p.m. and add that it does not appear the driver was speeding or drinking. People who know the intersection say it's dangerous even under the best circumstances. "Everybody has to speed, fast, fast, fast, and that's awful. Better off they should have lights and they should have right and left-hand turn signals," Concord resident Helen Schrapps told ABC7 news.
The principal at Mt. Diablo High School declined to speak on camera Tuesday out of respect for the family's privacy. She says she and all of her staff are of course hoping Joey makes a full recovery. The freshman basketball team has a game Tuesday evening that will certainly be difficult for the team.
Hornsby was taken to Oakland Children's Hospital Monday with life-threatening injuries, but a hospital spokeswoman could provide no further details Tuesday morning.
