JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Neighbors are wishing an 11-year-old boy a full recovery after he jumped from a moving school bus at the intersection of University Boulevard and Cruz Road Tuesday afternoon.
Ian Michael Galeza Flores, 11, is in critical condition in the NICU at Shands Hospital.
Flores' family told Channel 4 they were on their way back from the hospital and didn't have time to talk Wednesday night.
Neighbors are gradually hearing about the story of the developmentally disabled boy who has life threatening injuries after hitting the concrete so hard. All the neighbors are hoping Flores recovers fully from the accident.
"I'll pray and if they need anything, I'm here," said Cacci Hall.
Another neighbor, John Mooney, told Channel 4 that he has a child the same age as Flores who is also developmentally challenged.
"We have a special needs child. People don't always understand. It's tragic. That's actually the definition of tragic to me," said Mooney. "It's kind of one of those things that hits home. I don't know what the answer would be to solve that problem."
The Florida Highway Patrol said it is investigating what prompted Flores to unbuckle his seatbelt, open the emergency door and jump from the bus.
The FHP has obtained video from the school bus which they said they are reviewing to determine what exactly happened Tuesday.