Iowa boy, 13, dies after sledding down slope, across a road and under a 49-year-old driver’s car – as his parents say ‘his pulse was faint and faded away’

A 13-year-old boy has died 10 days after a tragic sledding accident in Iowa in which he slid down a snowy slope, crossed a road and fell under a car.

Adam McWherter was struck by a GMC Envoy on January 10 as he enjoyed the cold weather near his home at school on a snowy day. He was sledding with an 11-year-old boy, who jumped out of his own sled when he saw the car.

The younger boy tried to get McWherter’s attention to stop him. But McWherter went downhill and the SUV driver, 49, hit the teen in Anamosa, Iowa.

The road was covered in ice and snow and visibility was poor, an affidavit said.

Despite hitting the brakes, the SUV hit the boy, continued to slide and crashed into a ditch. Adam was rushed to hospital in critical condition. He died on Saturday

Adam suffered a broken collarbone, a fractured pelvis, a strained ligament in his neck and a spinal fracture, as well as bleeding in his skull and blood in his lungs.

a GoFundMe The statement for the boy’s family read: ‘He was not alone and received treatment very quickly, but was immediately knocked unconscious.

‘His pulse was weak and disappeared. Paramedics were able to restart his heart after about 20 minutes while he sat in the ambulance at the foot of our driveway.

“He was then taken to Jones Regional. There they stabilized him as much as possible and prepared him for transfer to the University of Iowa, where Adam was admitted to Stead Family Children’s Hospital.”

The 11-year-old boy, who was sledding with Adam on the fateful day, told investigators that they raced down the long driveway at Adam’s house.

They stopped at a ‘bump’ in the snow at the end of the hill.

A search warrant states: “They knelt on the sleds, leaned forward and used their hands to steer and brake. The last time they went down the ramp, (the 11-year-old) got a lead, with McWherter right behind him.

‘(The 11-year-old) reached the threshold first and saw a car approaching.

“He jumped off his sled and tried to get McWherter’s attention. (The 11-year-old) didn’t think McWherter saw the car until McWherter was about 10 to 15 feet from the end of the driveway, and he put his hands down to stop.”

Adam was hypothermic when he arrived at the hospital. Doctors told the family: ‘His heart is strong, for that we are very grateful.’

However, after nearly two weeks of medical care, Adam died from his injuries, Iowa State Police confirmed.

Adam’s parents, Amanda and Matt, wrote on January 12, while their son was still in the hospital: ‘We didn’t sleep the night after the accident and we were mentally and physically exhausted.

‘We have seen some very small improvements, but also know that we are still in that critical time when brain swelling is reaching its peak and there is still a lot of unknown.

‘Adam showed a very slight increase in brain activity from the day of his accident until yesterday. He also showed a very small pupillary response. He has tried to take a few breaths on his own, but that happens very sporadically.

Adam’s parents said they were realistic about his chances of survival during his struggle to live.

‘He is heavily sedated at the moment and monitoring his temperature is very important to allow his big, beautiful brain to heal. The fact that he was hypothermic may have helped his brain,” they continued.

‘Neuro did indeed see some blood pooling around his brain stem and the ventricles in his brain. His lungs are working as they should. If you know Adam well, you know that behind the sarcasm and funny comments, he has the biggest heart, which is strong and beats beautifully.

“Anyone who knows my coaching and mentoring style knows that we celebrate the small victories, but we are honest and realistic with ourselves because that is where we grow. That’s how we approach this.

‘They are all great little miracles, but there are also many unknowns. Many children keep asking if Adam is okay? Our honest answer is: we don’t know yet. Getting through this weekend is a huge hurdle.

‘His heart beats on its own and he is alive. That fact in itself is a true miracle and for that we are grateful! He shows no signs of feeling pain. At the moment he is ‘ok’ in terms of stable and holding.’

His mother said her son had his brace removed at the hospital so he could get an MRI. The family also played voice notes of Adam’s friends for him while he was sedated.

Anamosa Wrestling Club, of which Adam was a member, wrote in a statement: “It is with heavy hearts and deep sadness that we reach out to each of you regarding a tragic incident that has happened to our AWC family.

‘Adam McWherter suffered a devastating sledding accident and is in critical condition at Stead Family Children’s Hospital. We come together as a community to provide support, comfort and strength during this challenging time.

“The well-being of our AWC family members is at the heart of what makes our AWC family so special. In times of joy we celebrate together, and in times of sadness we lean on each other for support.

“McWherter’s are facing an unimaginable situation, and we must unite to offer our collective support and solidarity.”