LONE JACK, Mo. -- The mother of a teenage boy who was hit while riding his bicycle across Highway 50 is pleading to make the road safer.

Brennan Maxwell, 14, was bicycling to high school for football practice on Tuesday afternoon when a woman driving a pickup truck hit him. He is in critical but stable condition at Children's Mercy Hospital.

"The brunt of the damage was to his chest, his lungs and his heart. He's on life support and is expected to be for quite some time," mother Jennifer Maxwell told KMBC's Maria Antonia.

The incident has ignited a community's resolve to make the highway safer, including lowering the speed and rerouting the westbound lanes of the highway so they're not so close to the town.

"We've all known people that have been killed or hurt at this intersection. It's crazy," one resident said.

"The state has not fixed this. It should've been fixed more than 30 years ago," Maxwell said. "It's definitely more personal this time because it is my son. It is a huge source of irritation for me that it was completely avoidable."

Supporters to fix the road will hold a rally on Monday next to the 65 mph highway. There will also be a meeting with state transportation officials over what can be done.

State traffic figures for Highway 50 show 80 accidents along the stretch since 2002, including two fatal crashes. Experts said that's below average when compared to similar roads.

Meanwhile, Maxwell said she is grateful for the support she's received from the community.

"You just don't realize how many people you have in your life until something like this happens," Maxwell said.

There will be a fundraiser for the Maxwell family on Tuesday at the Roadside Cafe on westbound Highway 50 in Lone Jack from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For updates on Brennan's condition, visit sweetinspirationskc.com/brennan.

Officials said the 35-year-old driver who hit Maxwell will not be charged; police said she is not at fault.