Bonita Springs teen injured in hit-and-run while riding e-bike

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. —

Keanu Vallette, a 17-year-old Bonita Springs High School junior, says he was hit by a car last Thursday while riding his e-bike at the intersection of US-41 and Strike Lane.

"The last thing I remember from that was just the impact of being hit. And I thought, at that moment, I'm going to die," Vallette said.

Vallette explained that he had checked for cars before crossing the street.

"So I proceeded to cross the street like normal and this driver comes flying into me when I'm in the middle of the road and they hit me. They run, they back up onto me, and then they stop again and then they sped off," Vallette said.

Vallette returned to the scene of the crash and showed where he had lain unconscious. A track and cross-country athlete who had been receiving college offers, Vallette now faces uncertainty about his ability to compete at that level again.

"They said I had most likely shattered my right knee and I'll need surgery. They just can't tell the extent of my ACL or MCL surgery. They also said I have nothing wrong with my lungs or anything, but I do have kidney damage as well from the incident and they said my ligament in my left leg is partially torn, so I'm not sure if I will need surgery on that," Vallette said.

According to the crash report, a witness stated that a white SUV hit Vallette and did not stop.

"It made me feel like I was worthless to someone," Vallette said.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the incident remains an active investigation and encourages anyone with information to contact them.

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