Community Rallies Around 6-Year-Old Struck By Truck On Halloween

TRINITY, FL — It's a scene that still haunts Chris Keyes' nightmares 11 days later.

It was Halloween night and his 6-year-old twin sons were eager to go trick-or-treating with the other kids in their Longleaf neighborhood off Starkey Boulevard.

Dominick was dressed in a SWAT team costume. His brother, Andrew, was a Special Forces commando.

"There must have been 400 kids and parents out trick-or-treating," said Keyes. Even the businesses along Starkey Boulevard at the entrance to Longleaf subdivision joined in the festivities.

At 7:33 p.m., the twins and their mother, Darlene, began crossing Starkey Boulevard at the intersection of Town Avenue on the well-marked crosswalk with flashing lights. Chris Keyes, who was walking with the family's dog, was close behind.

At the same moment, a mother with a baby in a stroller and 9-year-old trick-or-treater at her side began to cross the road using the crosswalk from the opposite side of Starkey Boulevard.

Dominick was just a step ahead of his brother when a Ford F150 pickup truck came barreling through the intersection, striking Dominick.

"He was going 50 to 60 mph when he hit Dominick," said Chris Keyes. "I watched as the truck carried my son about 50 feet through the intersection before skidding to a stop."

Seeing his son's lying in the road, Keyes feared the worst. He was sure the little boy was dead.

"He was unresponsive, not breathing," he said. "It was the most horrifying moment of my life."

Related story: 6-Year-Old Struck By Pickup Truck While Trick-Or-Treating

By some miracle, the mother pushing the stroller on the opposite side of the road happened to be a trauma nurse. She quickly stabilized Dominick and administered CPR for the few minutes it took the Pasco County Fire Rescue paramedics to arrive.

Dominick was airlifted to St. Joseph's Hospital as a trauma alert where he was treated for a severe facial laceration and underwent surgery during the early morning hours of Nov. 1 for broken pelvis bones.

Much like his favorite hero, Batman, might have done, Dominick battled a 3-ton truck and survived.

Knowing that it could have easily been their own child, families rallied around the Keyes family.

When Dominick was struck by the truck, his plastic trick or treat bucket flew out of his hand. Tim Shea, owner of the Beauty Lounge of Trinity, recovered the bucket and set it on the front counter of his salon to collect donations for the family. And the owner of Florida Pool Tech, 2058 Bayshore Blvd. in Dunedin, gave the family four Busch Gardens season passes.

"It's amazing how quickly he healed," said Keyes, who noted that Dominick was releases from the hospital Sunday night, three days after he was admitted. "But we worry that the biggest injuries aren't visible on the outside. Something like this is bound to have a big mental impact. It's going to take a long time for him to get over this."

In the meantime, Dominick is relishing his sudden fame.

Nature Coast EMS emergency medical technician Jack Asbury III of Spring Hill dresses up like Batman to visit sick and injured children. When he learned about Dominick's love of Batman, he made arrangements to appear at Trinity Elementary School for a surprise visit with Dominick and his classmates.

Similarly, after learning that Dominick was dressed as a SWAT team member for Halloween, the Pasco County Sheriff's SWAT Team, along with Sheriff Chris Nocco, visited the Keyes family bringing along a SWAT vehicle for the twins to explore.

While Chris Keyes said he appreciates all the support the family has received since the accident, he said he was shocked to learn that the Florida Highway Patrol had only issued a citation for violating the right of way to the driver of the pickup truck, Nicholas Formico, 61, of Port Richey.

"I think it's disgusting," said Keyes. "It makes me sick to my stomach. If Dominick had died, it would have been vehicular manslaughter. At the least, he should have been charged with a felony."

Rather than dwelling on their disappointment, Keyes and his wife are focusing on positive actions like preventing future tragedies.

To that end, they are organizing a community fall festival on Sunday, Nov. 17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m in the vacant field on Starkey Boulevard across the street from Longleaf subdivision.

"It's a chance to get together and thank the community for their support," said Keyes. "We're planning to have a band, food trucks, games and, of course, Batman there."

Additionally, Shea is organizing a cut-athon Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Beauty Lounge of Trinity, 3104 Town Ave. Haircuts are $35 and all proceeds will go to raise funds for Dominick's medical expenses.

Keyes said the casual gathering will be an ideal time to talk to other parents in the community about the ineffectiveness of standard crosswalks with flashing lights.

"This should have never happened," he said. "No one should be allowed to drive through an intersection at that speed with so many kids in the area. There has to be some way to make sure they slow down -- a stop light, speed bumps, something."

Neighbor Kristal Stahl agrees. She has launched a petition drive on the website Change.org requesting that uniformed officers or crossing guards be stationed at busy crosswalks on Halloween. As of Monday afternoon, the petition had nearly reached its goal of 500 signatures.

"I think this would have never happened if a crossing guard or uniformed officer was present and assisting with traffic and pedestrians," she said. "If kids can have crossing guards in school zones and churches can have officers directing traffic after service, then why don’t we protect families more on Halloween night?