An Arizona pickup driver allegedly "barreled into" an 11-year-old boy crossing the street on his push scooter, leaving him screaming in pain on hot pavement before fleeing the scene, authorities and family members said.
Ethan Turner was struck by a vehicle driven by 46-year-old Glenn Noordhof near his home in San Tan Valley, according to the Pinal County Sheriff's Office. The boy remained on a ventilator at a Pinal County hospital as of Monday, his mother told KSAZ.
Background
The hit-and-run occurred last week when Ethan was crossing the street on his push scooter, authorities said. Witnesses and family members described how Noordhof allegedly struck the child without applying his brakes before abandoning him on the roadway.
"The driver fled the scene like a coward leaving Ethan lying there on the burning asphalt screaming in pain," according to a GoFundMe page established for the family.
The Investigation
Pinal County Sheriff's Office investigators used license plate cameras to track down Noordhof and locate his vehicle. He was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of leaving the scene of a crash that caused injuries, a felony charge under Arizona law.
Ethan suffered extensive injuries in the collision and remained in a medically induced coma at an area hospital as of early this week, according to his mother Tyra Turner. She said she arrived at the scene to find paramedics treating her son.
"Blood-curdling screams you never want to hear your child make, ever," Turner told KSAZ describing what she witnessed upon arrival.
The Victim's Condition
Despite the severity of Ethan's injuries, family members expressed cautious optimism about his recovery. The GoFundMe description stated he was expected to "pull through" but would require multiple surgeries and procedures along with long-term care.
Turner said her son showed minimal signs of responsiveness as of Monday.
"Yesterday was the first time I got to see any signs of Ethan in there," she told KSAZ. "He was able to give me a slight nod and squeeze my hand … He's not been able to say anything to me."
Key Takeaways
- Glenn Noordhof, 46, was arrested and booked on suspicion of leaving the scene of a crash causing injuries in San Tan Valley, Arizona
- The Pinal County Sheriff's Office used license plate cameras to track down the suspect after the hit-and-run
- Ethan Turner, 11, remained in a medically induced coma with extensive injuries but is expected to survive according to his family
- Noordhof allegedly struck the boy without braking and left him on "burning asphalt" before fleeing
What's Next
Noordhof remains in custody awaiting formal charges. The case is still under investigation by the Pinal County Sheriff's Office, and prosecutors have not yet announced whether they will pursue additional counts beyond the leaving-the-scene charge. Ethan continues to receive treatment at a Pinal County hospital where he faces upcoming surgeries.