Ceres boy, 16, ‘fighting for his life’ after fall from tailgate of moving pickup
A 16-year-old Ceres boy suffered major injuries Saturday afternoon when he was riding on the lowered tailgate of a pickup truck and fell when the driver accelerated, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Roy Anthony is “fighting for his life,” his aunt told The Bee and wrote on a GoFundMe.com page.
The incident occurred in the parking lot of Hidahl Elementary School on East Redwood Road south of Ceres. According to a Modesto Fire Department incident summary, an engine crew was dispatched and found the youth “with traumatic injuries and in cardiac arrest.”
An American Medical Response ambulance crew provided patient care while the teen was taken to Doctors Medical Center, said CHP Modesto spokesperson Officer Tom Olsen. From DMC, the boy was taken to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland. “We do not know his status as of today,” Olsen told The Bee on Sunday morning.
A CHP news release says emergency personnel were first on scene, where a GMC pickup was parked in the school’s parking lot, with the victim. The driver of the pickup, another 16-year-old Ceres boy, was uninjured.
Alcohol and/or drugs do not appear to have contributed to this crash, the CHP release says. “We are still investigating the specifics leading up to” the incident, Olsen said.
The accident left Roy with “serious brain injuries” and he is on life support, his aunt Amanda Randez wrote on the GoFundMe page “Support for Roy Anthony’s Miracle Recovery.”
The youth “has always been a bright light in our family and community — full of positivity, joy, and kindness,” Randez wrote. “He’s the kind of person who lifts up everyone around him, always respectful and caring, and he is deeply loved by all who know him. This fundraiser is to support Roy’s parents as they navigate the overwhelming challenges that come with his hospitalization. The funds raised will help cover unforeseen financial costs, including hospital bills, travel expenses, and monthly necessities. Roy’s parents have taken time off work to be by his bedside every day, and your support will allow them to focus on Roy’s recovery without the added burden of financial stress. ...”
In its news release on the crash, the CHP wrote that it “would like to remind juveniles and their caretakers of California’s provisional license law,” the news release says. “For those under the age of 18, newly licensed drivers have two restrictions for the first year they hold their license. First, teens are not allowed to transport any passengers under the age of 20 unless they are accompanied by an adult over the age of 25. Second, teens are not allowed to drive during the hours of 11 p.m. 5 a.m.”
This story was originally published December 28, 2025 at 12:21 PM.
