Parents of boy hurt after Phillies game in Calif. say he's improving

Ryan White, the 9-year-old Lower Makefield boy critically hurt by a hit-and-run driver after a Phillies game in San Francisco last week, has been upgraded to serious condition, his parents said Tuesday.

The boy "suffered fractures to his pelvis, left leg, and ankle; a laceration to his liver; and a traumatic brain injury that is slowly improving," Ken and Roseanne White said in their first public statement since the accident Thursday night. "In a matter of days he has gone from giving us a thumbs up or thumbs down response to speaking in sentences for the first time this morning."

The Whites said they were working with doctors and nurses at San Francisco General Hospital "to determine the best way for Ryan to return to Pennsylvania to continue his recovery."

In the statement, distributed by the hospital, they said, "Ryan has a long road ahead of him, but he is young and strong and we expect steady improvement, especially when he can engage in rehabilitation full time."

The Whites were a few blocks from AT&T Park after the Phillies defeated the Giants on Thursday when Ryan was struck by a hit-and-run driver. The alleged driver was caught hours later and charged with felony hit and run, driving under the influence, and driving with an open container.

Over the weekend, Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino, manager Charlie Manuel, and general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. visited Ryan, and he received autographed memorabilia from both teams. The Whites thanked the teams and San Francisco's police, fire department, merchants, and residents "for the outpouring of support and sympathy for our son Ryan."

Cards and letters for Ryan may be sent to Ryan White, Box 542, San Francisco, Calif. 94104.