A 15-year-old boy was taken to a hospital Thursday afternoon after he collided with an SUV while riding his bicycle in Hazel Dell.
Sheriff’s deputies and members of Fire District 6 were called to 800 N.W. 99th St., in front of Columbia River High School, about 3:50 p.m. Thursday.
The driver of the SUV stopped to help. Her name had not yet been released late Thursday.
The boy, Kienen Wayrynen, was listed in critical condition at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, a hospital administrator said at about 9:30 p.m. Thursday.
Sgt. Randon Walker with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office said the teen wore no helmet and violated two state laws before the crash.
He was riding east on the sidewalk, on the north side of 99th Street, down the hill.
“He was coming downhill at a really good clip,” Walker said.
The teen also was riding against the flow of traffic, also in violation of the law, Walker said.
The driver of the SUV was about to leave the parking lot, and violated no laws, Walker said.
“The driver said she looked both ways and didn’t see him on the sidewalk,” Walker said. She braked and may have been stopped before her SUV was hit.
The boy tried to avoid hitting the SUV but crashed into the far front of its passenger side, near the headlights and bumper, Walker said.
Neither the driver nor the boy had been using alcohol or drugs, Walker said.
The driver was not ticketed or accused of any wrongdoing, and it’s unlikely the teen will be ticketed because of his age and injuries, Walker said.
Kienen is the son of The Columbian’s photo editor, Troy Wayrynen.
The father made this statement on his Facebook page: “Kienen suffered a large, deep gash on the left side of his body. He suffered a partially collapsed lung and a bruised spleen. He is in surgery.”
Troy Wayrynen added later Thursday night: “Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers. We are so blessed to have so much support from so many people. We thank you.
“He is out of surgery and the doctor says he is doing really good. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.”
John Branton: 360-735-4513 or john.branton@columbian.com.
