DANVERS — A student at North Shore Technical High School in Middleton suffered a broken pelvis when a concrete-mixing truck struck him as he was crossing Route 62 yesterday morning.
Mike Philbrook, 17, was on his way to a school bus stop at around 7:20 a.m. when he was hit near the intersection of Route 62, also known as Maple Street, and Burley Avenue.
Philbrook is a junior at North Shore Technical High School that draws students from 16 North Shore communities. He is enrolled in the school's masonry program.
A spokesman for Massachusetts General Hospital said Philbrook was in fair condition. A gash on his head required stitches but, other than that, he escaped without any serious head injuries, said Dan O'Connell, North Shore Tech's superintendent. O'Connell learned of his status by talking to Philbrook's father and stepmother on the phone.
He was expected to have surgery last night or this morning, O'Connell said.
"He's in good spirits even though he is in intensive care," O'Connell said, relaying information offered by his parents. They said that Philbrook was walking in the crosswalk, he said.
The concrete truck is owned by Benevento Companies, headquartered in Wilmington but which has facilities throughout the North Shore and Merrimack Valley, including Georgetown, Gloucester and Plaistow, N.H..
The driver of the truck was Ronald Olsen, 62, of 43 Adams Ave., Seabrook, N.H., according to Danvers police Sgt. Robert Bettencourt. The incident is still under investigation, he said, and no charges have been filed against the driver.
The president of the company, Charles Benevento, would not comment on the accident except to say, "At this time our thoughts and prayers are with this young man and his family."
The truck was heading east on Route 62 toward downtown Danvers. Police are investigating whether solar glare or speed were contributing factors, Bettencourt said.
"The operator of the vehicle was quite upset," Bettencourt said. "He was distraught."
Ann Dufresne, spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, said Olsen's driving history was not available because he was from New Hampshire. A spokesman for the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles could not be reached.
There was no crossing guard in the crosswalk at the time of the accident.
A guard arrived later in the morning to help middle and elementary students cross, Bettencourt said.
