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Police: 2 Burke County teens hospitalized after hit by truck

DREXEL, N.C. — Police: 2 Burke County teens hospitalized after hit by truck

Two Burke County teens are hospitalized after they were hit by a pickup truck in Drexel on Thursday night.

The two young men, 18-year-old Tyler Carswell and 19-year-old Kevin Moody, were crossing Highway 70 at the intersection with Drexel Road. Family members said the men had been at the Friendly Arcade pool hall and were crossing the street to get drinks at the nearby gas station when a man turned right on Highway 70 and hit them.

Christy Huskins was driving by and stopped to see if she could help.

The shock of what she saw only hit her Friday.

"I was upset," she said. "I was like, ‘Wow.’ I'm still wowing about it, because it's so close to where we live. People walk across that street every day."

There is no crosswalk at that intersection, something Carswell's mother, Donna Carswell, told Eyewitness News by phone she wants to see changed.

Troopers said the driver pulled over and has not been charged.

Moody was flown to Carolinas Medical Center with bleeding on his brain and underwent surgery Thursday night. Family members said he's in a medically-induced coma that doctors will try to bring him out of in the next few days.

Carswell is at Mission Hospital in Asheville. His family is waiting for tests to find out the extent of his injuries but said he is conscious and talking.

Carswell is a senior at Jimmy C. Draughn High School in Valdese; Moody graduated last year. Principal Emily Garrison said both teens took construction classes at her school.

"Very likeable, personable kids," she said. "If you look around our campus, some of the projects you see -- their hands were involved in that."

She said everyone is thinking about and praying for them.

"It just puts a somber mood and atmosphere over the school until we know more," she said.

Troopers said they are continuing to investigate.