A Powell High School sophomore is on the path to recovery at Billings Clinic with the help of first responders, doctors and Harry Potter after being hit by a truck while riding his skateboard on Oct. 27.

According to the Powell Police Department, Logan James was riding his skateboard eastbound in the gutter on East Seventh St.  when he was hit by a truck that did not see James and had drifted into the gutter. James was knocked from his skateboard onto the curb. The driver was cited for careless driving. Neither alcohol nor speeding were determined to be a factor in the incident. 

James’ grandmother Mary Vale said James has been staying in the pediatric unit of Billings Clinic, where he had initially been subdued and sleeping the majority of the time. 

On Halloween, staffers dressed up and brought candy to the pediatric patients as a “reverse trick or treat.” An occupational therapist had told Vale that it was important to talk about things James would relate to. When he saw the hospital’s medical oncology manager Bob Beery dressed as Harry Potter, and the oncology department dressed as other J.K. Rowling characters, it kick-started his path to recovery. Vale said James is a big Harry Potter fan and when “Harry Potter came through the door he snapped out of it.”  

Beery said that they were aware of James in the pediatric ward because they had been told that a high schooler may not want to take part in the Halloween fun. As Beery was leaving he was told that James had seen him and asked to talk with Harry Potter. Beery said that they talked for 15-20 minutes about Harry Potter. Afterward Vale shared James’ story with Beery and mentioned that James hadn’t been “very communicative or very responsive” until his Harry Potter conversation. Beery came back in later at Vale’s request to spend more time talking with James. 

“It was as emotional for me as it was for him and his grandma,” Berry said.

He added that the experience is “hard to put into words” but it is what a lot of health care workers enter the field for and why the oncology department went to pediatrics that day. 

Vale has sent updates on James’ condition to Powell High School as the community rallies round her grandson.

According to an email sent to Powell High School by Vale, James has bruising on his elbow and knee as well as “couple of stitches in the back of his head.” Vale said James will either be going to Denver or Casper to receive intensive brain therapy with an expected recovery period of two weeks to six months. She noted that with his current recovery she does not expect it to take that long.

“Thank you for all your prayers and support,”  Vale said. “The outreach has been incredible. Powell is such a great town.”

Vale added that they do not need financial support or food. Instead she asked for prayers for both James and the driver. She thanked St. Barbara’s Catholic Church, the schools and community for their support.