A 17-year-old is hospitalized after an ATV crash in northeast Harris County left him with severe injuries.
HOUSTON — A 17-year-old boy has been hospitalized for weeks at the Texas Medical Center after suffering severe injuries in an ATV accident on May 17 in northeast Harris County.
Vladimir Mercado was found lying near Hirsch Road, off Highway 59 and East Mount Houston, after someone passing by spotted him following the crash. The adventurous teenager, who loved the outdoors, sustained serious injuries that required doctors to remove part of his skull to relieve brain swelling.
His mother, Eva Lira, has remained by his side since mid-May and says the injuries have dramatically changed her son’s life.
“The fact that affected the most is the languages. He acts like a 2 year old,” Lira said, explaining that Vladimir can barely speak and has lost his ability to understand language.
The discovery of Vladimir was purely by chance.
“The kid happened to see him and saw his leg moving. If that little kid wouldn’t have seen him my child wouldn’t be with us right now,” Lira recounted.
While Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputies have ruled the crash an accident, saying Vladimir lost control, flipped the ATV, and was thrown off, his mother believes there’s more to the investigation.
“He knows what he was doing. It wasn’t like he was going to put himself in any immediate danger. It had to be someone hit him,” she said. Lira expressed frustration with the investigation.
The emotional toll on the family has been devastating.
“It’s very difficult…to me this was the summer we were going to enjoy. We don’t know how long is he going to be a functional kid.,” Lira said. “That first day I was in shock. I am going to wake up from this dream my son can’t be like this.”
Vladimir remains hospitalized at the Texas Medical Center, where doctors say he will stay as long as needed until his brain swelling decreases. The family has established a GoFundMe account to help with expenses.