Friends, family rally around Roswell teen hit by truck

ROSWELL, Ga. — Friends and teammates of a Roswell teen injured by an out-of-control car are rallying around his family.

Cyril Teal, 17, was walking home Saturday on Holcomb Bridge Road when police said a man driving a Dodge Dakota pickup drove off the road, onto the sidewalk and pinned Teal underneath.

The wreck left Teal with a shattered pelvis, other broken bones and internal injuries, his mother told Channel 2's Mike Petchenik.

Teal is a former Centennial High School football player who is also on the track team. One of his coaches, Renaldo Smith, describes him as an "extremely talented" athlete.

"He could be, could have been one of the best," Smith told Petchenik. "Wonderful kid. Very energetic. So funny."

Smith told Petchenik when he heard about the incident he didn't believe it, and when he saw pictures of his student laid up in a hospital bed it hurt him deeply.

"I was upset," he said. "We want to go up and show we're there to support him, sports or not."

Teammates were also stunned to hear about what happened. Caden Herring described Teal as the fastest member of the track team.

"Terrible things happen to great people," said Herring. "I think he could have had a chance to play in college. It breaks my heart to see him not be able to reach his goals."

Jorden Albright echoed that sentiment about his friend.

"It just sucks to see a great athlete and this change in a matter of seconds," he said. "I hope he gets better, at least to run."

Both students expressed interest in starting a fund to help pay for Teal's mounting medical costs.

Petchenik obtained a copy of the police report from the incident. It identifies the driver as a 21-year-old Canton man and said charges are pending. Channel 2 Action News isn't naming the driver because police haven't charged him.

WSBTV