A Granite Hills High School football player is in a fight for his life Monday after he was hit by a car in El Cajon.
The 16-year-old freshman was crossing East Washington Avenue at Waterloo Avenue with three other people when he was hit by an oncoming car at around 8 p.m.
Teammate Michael Mettler told NBC 7 the collision was so forceful that it sent the victim some 30 feet away from the point of impact.
Mettler and the freshman were crossing Washington Avenue in an unmarked crosswalk, thinking they had plenty of time to make it safely, when an oncoming Toyota Rav4 came barreling down the road.
Laura Donathan, a nearby resident, heard the sound of the collision and raced outside to find the boy laying in the street. Another person started CPR.
"He looked like he was just lifeless and she just started doing CPR and I think about after three tries he started breathing,” Donathan said.
"I hope she saved his life," she added.
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The teenager was transported to Sharp Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to El Cajon police.
Now, the victim’s friends are left hoping their buddy can pull through.
“He is a great guy to hang out with, always giving. He likes to play sports, we play basketball together," Mettler said. "We hang out and chill, play video games together. He is a nice guy for sure."
The driver of the Rav4 stopped at the scene and cooperated with police.
East Washington Avenue was closed in both directions in the area of the crash as investigators worked the scene.
Drugs or alcohol are not factors in the crash at this time, police said.
Students at Granite Hills have had their share of adversity this school year. They lost senior football standout Will Burton in a car accident in December, and another student of the school died in January.
