Pasco boy, 8, badly injured in collision with car

SHADY HILLS — An 8-year-old boy who was peddling his bicycle to his school bus stop Wednesday morning was seriously injured in a collision with a car, the Florida Highway Patrol reported.

Family members told school officials that Donavin K. Smith has a fractured vertebra in his neck and that his brain is swollen. They said the second-grader was in surgery on Wednesday at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa.

The accident happened about 7:35 a.m., when the boy headed south into the intersection of Deason Drive and Trent Lane. He drove into the path of a 1997 Ford sedan driven by Joseph Pendola, 27, who was going west.

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash to determine who was at fault.

Students were not informed of the accident on Wednesday because school officials didn't have much information about his condition, said Mary Thomas-Oliver, school psychologist at Mary Giella Elementary School.

Thomas-Oliver said school officials have the option today of calling in a crisis team to talk to students and administrators at Shady Hills and Mary Giella, where the boy went to school for kindergarten, first grade and a small part of second grade before he transferred to Shady Hills this year.

"Some of the staff at Shady Hills aren't too familiar with him, but at Mary Giella, everybody knew him," Thomas-Oliver said.

She said school staff were "shocked and concerned" when they learned of the accident.

Tom Barker, principal at Shady Hills Elementary School, said he is ready to offer educational services at the boy's home during his recovery.

"He's a really cute little guy," Barker said. "My heart goes out to the family."

Thomas-Oliver said she has been praying for his recovery, and recalling things about him that made him special.

"If he was standing in line to drink water or go to the bathroom, he would tell a child before him, 'You can go,' " Thomas-Oliver said. "I love how he always puts others before him."

Comments on this article

by Aunt Jenny	Oct 8, 2008 4:49 PM
Everyone, Please pray. We need everyone to come together, put your differences aside and pray for families that were involved and especially for Donavin for a quick recovery.

by Michelle	Oct 7, 2008 1:56 PM
To the family of Donavin, I am sorry for all of the judgements from all. My family's prayer are with you. I hope that Donavin recovers quickly and all of you get back to a normal routine.Get better Donavin.

by hmmmm	Oct 6, 2008 2:15 PM
Donavin K. Smith was riding his bicycle south on Deason Drive at 7:35 a.m. when a 1997 Ford driven by Joseph Pendola, 27, was driving west on Trent Lane. Donavin pedaled his bike into the intersection from a stop sign and into the path of Pendoa's ca

by Mark	Oct 5, 2008 10:42 AM
I am the boy's uncle. His dad was there and said that the car was in excess of the speed limit. Donovin had rode his bike to the bus stop with his parents following in their car for over a year. No ned to place blame. We all need to pray for Donovin

by Cousin Jan	Oct 5, 2008 10:03 AM
I was raised by the saying that you don't throw stones when you live in a glass house. It appears to me that a lot of you folks must live in glass houses. We should be praying for Donavin's recovery and ALL the family members involved.

by wontbepublished	Oct 3, 2008 8:04 PM
Jennifer, I am just reading what the article says. SPTimes will speak to the parents at the hospital so I am not buying it! You can call me dumb but my son is safe 24/7! Where does it say the dad was there? It doesnt!

by Carla	Oct 3, 2008 6:11 PM
My thoughts and prayers to everyone involved. God Bless Donavin and may he have a full recovery.

by Jennifer	Oct 3, 2008 1:34 PM
To Won't be published: You are a complete idiot. Efforts were unsuccessful by the TIMES to reach his parents. This is because they were at the hospital with their kid. I'm amazed at how some people can be so dumb!

by Prayer	Oct 3, 2008 1:34 PM
Regardless of what happened, don't you think that these parents are going through a lot right now? Everyone can sit on here an bash all they want to but that is not going to help this little boy. I think people should put themselves in their shoes.

by pasco mom	Oct 3, 2008 1:34 PM
prayers for all involved and folks, PAY ATTENTION whether you are walking, riding, or driving!

by JUDI	Oct 3, 2008 1:34 PM
I'M DONAVIN'S GRANDMOTHER, FOR ALL OF YOU OUT THERE MY SON AND HIS WIFE ARE COMPLETELY DESTROUGHT BY THIS, MY SON SAW THE WHOLE THING HAPPEN, HE WISH IT WOULD OF BEEN HIM, HIS WIFE IS WITH HER SON DAY AND NITE, PLEASE BE KIND TO THESE PEOPLE.

by Kim	Oct 3, 2008 1:34 PM
As a mother of an 8 yr old boy myself, this is terrible my heart goes out to the parents as well as the driver. I just saw last night on Ulmerton a person hit by a car and he was ridding a bike too. The drivers here in Fl drive way to fast!

by barbara	Oct 3, 2008 1:33 PM
Let's pray for his healing and recovery,also pray for his family members and friends who have been affected by this, pray for a healing for them.

by george	Oct 3, 2008 1:33 PM
and by the way justthinking, yes i feel for the 27 year old , but do u know he has not as of yet that i know of offered any kind of at least hey im sorry i hit your kid.

by george	Oct 2, 2008 8:47 PM
he wont be published ,where u there? they couldnt get ahold of his parents because they were at the hospital with him,u dunce

by Michelle	Oct 2, 2008 8:33 PM
Stop blaming the student and his family.I have 3 buses that come on my street.The speed limit is 25 mph most drive 30 to 50mph kids or no kids. We need more patrolling in the neighbor-hoods.Watch for any age always. Pedestrians have the right of way.

by justthinking	Oct 2, 2008 8:33 PM
Why is no one concerned about the 27 year old who hit the kid? He needs your prayers too. And, if the dad was with the boy, why didn't he lead the way? I never let my kids ride their bikes to school. I drove my daughter everyday! Accidents happen!!!

by wont be published!	Oct 2, 2008 8:31 PM
Ann yes he was alone. "Efforts to reach the boy's family were unsuccessful on Wednesday". Jenny yes kids will be kids. Now if we can just have the parents be parents! Sickens me that parents are too lazy to make sure their children are safe!

by george	Oct 2, 2008 5:30 PM
all these comments about he was too young to out ,what do u think our grandparents did to get to school way back when. So hey mary are u telling me u never rode your bike to school?

by Jenny	Oct 2, 2008 3:58 PM
People need to understand that they are driving a machine that they are suppose to be aware of everthing around them. This is an 8 year old boy. Kids will be kids. I am his aunt from Ohio. I love you very much

by rebecca	Oct 2, 2008 3:38 PM
My cousin did not ride into that mans path, he knew at that time there were kids going to school. My cousin rides his bike to the bus everyday and never, not even an almost got hit by a car. That man should have been more aware of his surroundings.

by John	Oct 2, 2008 3:30 PM
Wa he wearing a helmet? I see many children riding bikes to school each day without helmets. I thought it was the law they had to wear them.

by Ann	Oct 2, 2008 3:27 PM
Please get your facts straight before you condemn. He was not alone he was with his father. Kids do unexpected things even with parental supervision. His parents are good loving people that are devastated by this. Please be kind and just pray.

by tricia	Oct 2, 2008 2:35 PM
Florida needs school buses for the safety & wellbeing of all kids. The traffic is fast & roads too crowded for kids to be finding their way to school, not to mention a mere 8 yrs old. Make absent parents pay their fair share, there's your bus $.

by cia	Oct 2, 2008 2:29 PM
Part of Florida's dropout problem is a lack of proper transportation to & from school.The roads are full of CRAZIES, yet the babes walk, something wrong here. When kids are walking to school all SPEED LIMITS SHOULD BE REDUCED TO 20 MPH & enforced.

by Mary	Oct 2, 2008 2:08 PM
Just a silly question - Why was an 8-y/o riding his bike to school? My grandson is that age and no way is a child that age responsible enough to ride or walk to school by themself.

by Vicki	Oct 2, 2008 2:06 PM
He is kind of young to be out riding his bike at 7:30 in the morning . Was he by him self ? If so shame on his parents.

by Jan	Oct 2, 2008 1:59 PM
My sympathy to the family and school mates but one has to ask - why was a second grader riding his bike by himself - country lane or not I think 8 - 9 yrs old is too young to be alone for any great distance esp. at "rush hour" thru an intersection

by Concerned	Oct 2, 2008 10:56 AM
I live on the road we he was hurt.and see drivers speed down the road all the time.and peel out from their driveways.theirs no speed limit posted and its a dirt road that pasco co. Won't pave or put speed limit signs on.and we all pay high taxes .