FISHERS, Ind. — A 9-year-old boy remained hospitalized Monday night after police said he was hit by a drunk driver while walking on a sidewalk.
Branton Givens Jr. and his mother Kristin had traveled to Hamilton County for a baseball tournament and were getting ready to check in at their hotel off 96th Street in Fishers.
"We hear something kind of approaching," Kristin recounted. "We turn around and as we turn around, a car is driving up the sidewalk. We only had a split second to kind of react."
Kristin said she tried to push her son out of the way but he was pinned between the car and the building. Branton was rushed to Riley Hospital For Children and had to undergo emergency surgery. Kristin said his hip was fractured in three places from the impact of the crash.
“It was just the scariest moment I’ve ever experienced in my life," Kristin said. "That split second of not knowing whether my son has been completely ran over and if he’s even OK."
Branton is not able to walk right now without help. The team had not even played their first game in the tournament when the crash occurred. It's now put an early end to his summer sports season.
"To know that he’s not able to do what he loves for such a long amount of time due to somebody else’s negligence," Kristin said. "That’s a different level of hurt."
Police said that "somebody" was 32-year-old Emily Spenard.
She made her first court appearance today and is facing several charges including causing serious bodily injury while intoxicated.
According to court filings, Spenard failed field sobriety tests and blew at .08 BAC.
"Have a second thought when you’re thinking about making a bad decision," Kristin said. "Particularly drinking and driving."
For now, Kristin said her focus is on her son's recovery.
His teammates have visited him in the hospital and gifted him a signed photo as he continues on his long road to recovery.
“I'm just thankful for everybody rallying around us and the support that Branton has," Kristin said.
In court, the judge told Spenard he was not comfortable releasing her into a pre-trial program and instead set her bond at $40,000.
She's scheduled to be back in court in June.