Friends and family are sending prayers to Jim Lewin, 64, who was critically injured at a holiday event in Littleton last week when he pushed a stroller holding his newborn granddaughter out of the way of an oncoming truck.

Lewin, a retired firefighter from Los Angeles who moved to Durango in 1999, was with his daughter and her family Friday to attend Littleton's candlelight walk and tree lighting.

About 7 p.m., he was walking south on South Prince Street at West Church Avenue with his 3- year-old grandson, Brian, and granddaughter Sara, only days old.

When they entered the crosswalk, Lewin pushed the stroller out of the way of a Dodge pickup truck he saw turn from Prince onto Church, Littleton police said.

The truck hit Lewin, dragging him 75 feet, according to a Web site created by family members to update his condition. Lewin remains in critical condition at Swedish Medical Center.

He spent 29 years as a Los Angeles County firefighter. And by Wednesday, more than 2,000 people had visited the site.

The driver of the truck was cited with careless driving resulting in injury.

An investigation is ongoing, but authorities do not believe alcohol was involved.

Family Web site

* Updated information on his progress can be found at caringbridge.org/visit/jimlewin.