Tempe High School senior Joseph Dixon was hit by a taxi Thursday night while walking to his graduation.
Tempe police say the taxi was headed southbound on Mill Avenue near Broadway Road when the driver lost control for unknown reasons, hit the teenager and then crashed into a wall.
Dixon, who goes by Jojo, played baseball and football for Tempe High School and plans to attend Arizona State University in the fall.
A representative from Tempe High School called Dixon a good hearted and happy go lucky kid.
Jojo has a broken leg and is in a lot of pain, but his mom says he's recovering well despite a lot of unknowns.
"We don't know if he's gonna walk, if he's gonna be paralyzed or anything, I just have to take it little by little," said Wakonda Dixon.
She says Jojo is the baby of the family and her final graduate. She says him missing out on this right of passage is heartbreaking.
"This was his night, you know. He didn't even have the chance to walk the stage for his graduation," said Dixon.
She says her son is a fighter but she thinks it would really brighten his spirits if his teammates would come visit him.
Tempe Union High School says the senior class did take a moment of silence, privately, before beginning graduation ceremonies. The school does plan to hold a graduation ceremony for Jojo when he is well enough.
Impairment isn’t believed to be a factor in the crash and no arrests have been made so far.
Police are still investigating the incident.
His family has set up a GoFundMe account.
