PC West Student Hospitalized After Truck Hits Him At School Bus Stop

The condition of a Putnam City West High School student has improved, after police say a pickup truck slammed into him Wednesday, after he got off his bus.

The bus had been heading south on Meridian, but stopped at N.W. 32nd Street to let students off. The victim was crossing back over Meridian when police say a black Toyota pickup truck driven by 75-year-old Salvadore Serna struck the 16-year-old boy.

8/21/2013 Related Story: Teen Struck By Truck In NW OKC After Driver Ignores School Bus Stop Sign

Putnam City West classmate Steven Howeth was on the bus, and saw it happen. He says the impact sent his classmate flying at least ten feet through the air.

"And I was the first one off the bus to get to him, and I was like are you alright? He was unresponsive. So I chased down the truck driver and got him to stop and pull over," Howeth said.

Howeth says the impact of the crash damaged the engine of the pickup truck, so Serna was not able to speed away. Police say Serna does not have a valid drivers license, and they are holding him for two felonies.

Police say the victim was admitted to an area hospital in critical condition, but that has been upgraded to "stable but guarded."