The Beavers family, from left, Marlee, Daniel and Colt. They were in a crash Saturday night in Somerville. Colt is in Children’s Hospital while his dad is recovering in Huntsville Hospital. Marlee was treated and released from the hospital the night of the crash. | Courtesy of Prayers for Colt

Community members are rallying around a 12-year-old Hartselle student and his family after he was critically injured in a crash late Saturday night in Somerville.

Colt Beavers, a fifth grader at Hartselle Intermediate School, was severely injured in a car crash with two other vehicles at the intersection of Alabama 67 and New Center Road. Libby Morse, a cousin who Colt refers to as Aunt Libby, said his dad, Daniel, drove the vehicle Colt was riding in.

“The truck that they collided with was carrying another car,” Morse said. “After the truck hit their car, the vehicle it was carrying came off and hit their car.”

Morse said Colt was transported to Decatur Morgan Hospital, where he was stabilized and then transferred to Children’s Hospital in Birmingham. Daniel is still recovering at Huntsville Hospital and Colt’s sister, Marlee, walked away from the crash, although she did have some bruises and burns from the seatbelt.

Colt and Marlee are also the great-grandchildren of JoAnn and Johnny Johns.

Currently, Morse said that Colt has already undergone major brain surgery, where doctors removed a significant blood clot.

“The doctors were pleased with how well his surgery went,” Morse said. “The doctors are right now concerned that he has some bruising on his right temporal lobe.”

Morse said the Beavers family and the extended family have been overwhelmed with the outpouring of support they’ve received since the crash.

“Within a couple of days, we already have 3,000 likes on the Prayers for Colt Facebook page,” Morse said. “Everyone has just rallied around Colt and his family. We’ve gotten so many letters and messages. It’s just amazing the amount of support that we’ve gotten.”

Morse said Colt is an active, entertaining guy who loves to play baseball and spend outside “regardless if it’s 20 below or 150 degrees.” His favorite color is pink.

“He’s a bit of a jokester,” Morse said. “He’s always active – never can sit still. He’s a loving guy with a heart of gold. And he loves to be the center of attention.”

Hartselle Intermediate School Principal Gaylon Parker said his school is having a hat day on Friday and is selling armbands to help raise money for the family.

Morse said Fairview Baptist Church in Decatur is also selling T-shirts with the proceeds going to Colt’s medical and family expenses.

To follow Colt’s progress, Morse said to like the Prayers for Colt page on Facebook.