A 14-year-old Boynton Beach boy named Macen is facing surgery and an uncertain future after an SUV pulling out of a shopping plaza struck him while he was riding his bicycle along Jog Road. His father, Mitch Malizio, says it is still unclear whether his son will ever walk again.
Macen suffered broken ribs, facial lacerations and a shattered pelvis that will require surgery, according to WPBF. His father, Mitch Malizio, told the station the SUV rolled over his son and estimated the vehicle weighed about 4,000 pounds.
At the hospital, Malizio said he was told to wait while Macen was being evaluated. He called Macen “an awesome kid,” said his son was everything to him and urged drivers to be more cautious. Malizio said it remains unclear whether Macen will walk again.
Pediatric Trauma Alert Called to Jog Road
The crash happened on Jog Road between La Chalet Boulevard and Gateway Boulevard, with units called to the scene around 4:25 p.m. Wednesday, per CBS12. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue responded to what they described as a vehicle-versus-bicyclist crash. The child on the bike was identified as a pediatric trauma alert and was transported to a trauma center, the outlet reported.
The sheriff's office said the SUV driver remained at the scene, and investigators are still working to determine what caused the crash and whether the driver is to blame. No charges have been filed in connection with the crash.
Other Crashes Around Boynton Beach
Two other crashes have been reported around Boynton Beach. A 58-year-old man was critically injured after being struck by an SUV while crossing a busy Boynton Beach intersection, and a 46-year-old e-bicycle rider was critically injured after colliding with an SUV turning into the entrance of Temple Torah of Boynton Beach along South Jog Road, both previously reported by the same station.
Boynton Beach police say calls involving bicycles come in at least every other day, according to WPTV. Department data shows at least 31 crashes between bicyclists and drivers in Boynton Beach so far this year, a dozen more than during the same period last year. The Florida Highway Patrol reported that at least six bicyclists had died and hundreds had been injured in Palm Beach County crashes in 2025, the station noted, and Boynton Beach police are preparing to launch an education plan focused on bicyclist safety in response.
Enforcement Push at Central County Intersections
The broader numbers paint a troubling picture for the county. Palm Beach County ranks fifth in Florida for deadly pedestrian and bicyclist injuries among counties with populations over 300,000, according to CBS12. In response, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office has been conducting high-visibility enforcement at particular intersections throughout central Palm Beach County to improve road safety for both pedestrians and cyclists, the outlet reported.
Countywide Crash Figures
Palm Beach County recorded 1,817 collisions involving pedestrians and bicyclists in 2025, resulting in 157 serious-injury crashes and 52 fatal crashes, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office reported. These figures provide countywide context; they do not specify bicycle-safety projects or improvements along the Jog Road corridor.
Under Florida law, bicyclists are permitted to move left within a lane to overtake and pass another bicycle or vehicle traveling in the same direction, to prepare for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway, or when reasonably necessary to avoid a condition or when the lane is too narrow to share safely, according to the relevant section of the Florida Senate statutes. For now, the cause of Wednesday's crash remains under investigation, and Macen's family is left waiting to see how much of his recovery is possible, with his father renewing his plea for drivers across the area to slow down and pay attention.
