A Taylor youth is awaiting surgery on Friday at Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville for leg and foot injuries he sustained April 21 when he ran into the side of a pickup truck while crossing North 8th St. in Macclenny at the ballfields.

Sean Tillis, 9, was transferred to Wolfson shortly after the 2 pm mishap that occurred during a cloudburst at the north city Knabb Sports Complex.

The boy is deaf, and ran between two parked cars and into a passing 2011 Chevrolet pickup driven by Michael Crews, a Baker County commissioner who was dropping off his son to play a Little League baseball game.

Young Tillis had crossed 8th St. earlier to place his cochlear implant in his father’s vehicle to keep it dry.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the right rear tire of the pickup ran over the boy’s right foot, causing him to fall onto the roadway. The impact broke his ankle and several foot bones, but he is expected to make a full recovery.

FHP Trooper James Powell said Commissioner Crews was unable to take evasive action. He will not be charged.

“I hate it that it happened,” said the commissioner this week. “I talked to Sean this morning [Tuesday] at the hospital and he told me he was doing well. His dad said he was in good spirits.”

Mr. Crews said he plans to be at Wolfson on Friday for the surgery.

Young Tillis, the son of James and Clare Tillis of Taylor, was at the field awaiting a game to be played by his brother’s team, the Dodgers. It is the same team that Commissioner Crews’ son plays on.

“He’s been super,” James Tillis said of the commissioner.