Skateboarder hit by car in Granite City

I am Cierra Shemwell's Grandma. I just found out from her tonight and this is so unbearable. I met him several times, he was so polite, respectful and my Grandaughter adored him. They saw each other for a while and broke it off but she is devestated so I went to be with her tonight.

My heart goes out to his family and what they are going through especially since we have lost a lot of our closest loved ones in the past few years. I feel so sad for them. I pray for the best and have faith that he will pull through. We will know more tomorrow. I hope God will spare your Son's life and we are all praying for you and your family. Theres's nothing I can say to make it better, wish I could. My heart is with you all.

Marianne

This is not like me to post comments but I have seen anough negative comments in the GC paper, I just had to.

I just read some comments on another site from the GC Press about skateboards, etc. You are so cruel and I feel sorry for you that the only thing you have to do during this horrible time is to talk about that he went in front of a car and skateboards should be taken away and YOUR children are so responsible. Sure, while their around you. But they are children and I feel bad they are yours.

Accidents do happen and you don't know the situation. He probably was just crossing the road and didn't see the car. you act like he did it on purpose???

I feel sorry for you because if this happened to your child, would you like these hateful comments posted while your 14 year old child is hanging by a thread? You negative people make me so angry. My Son died in a tragic accident and I NEVER want to see or hear about anyone else going through what our family is. This is so sad and I wish you would pray for him instead of being so cruel to this poor boy and his parents and family. Please stop being so critical because you never know when it will happen to someone in your family. It is not under our control.

Please think before you write anything else bad.

Do any of you know Austin personally? Maybe one or two of you do but if you dnt then that's the difference between you and I. I've known Austin for two years, he didn't deserve any of this, he was.. no he IS a great kid. I may only be 15 years old and I may only be a teenaged girl but I know the difference between right and wrong. Taken a skateboard from someone will only make them rebell, trust me. I am the only girl in my family, my older brother and cousins all skate and there has been many times that they've gotten a ticket and gotten their boards taken away. I honestly dnt think that is the best way to get kids from skating on the streets, parking lots, and sidewalks. Kids are going to be kids. You were a kids once remember those days? Laws weren't like they are today. I live in Granite City, there really isn't anything to do without getting introuble. Maybe if there were more place for kids to skate, ride bikes, roller blade ect. kids wouldn't be in the streets and side walks. The Wilson Park Skate Park, has soo many rules to follow it's crazy. The Mill Skate Park is the same way.Anyway back to the point - This was by NO MEANS Austins fault what so ever. Maybe if people would pay attention while they drive and not eat, text, talk on the phone, mess with the radio or whatever people do these days while they drive then they would see whats going on around them.So what if he was skatin in the street or whatever Austin was doing. They should've been paying attention to the roads! Austin, great kid, great personallity, can always make someone laugh, always puts a smile on someones face, I love him to death and I hope he makes it through this.<3