SCREWDRIVER WOUND KEEPS BOY IN HOSPITAL : AREA YOUTH'S BROTHER ARRESTED IN ASSAULT.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

A 13-year-old Rosamond boy remained hospitalized in critical but stable condition Friday, five days after a screwdriver thrown by his older brother punctured his skull, officials said.

The Phillips head screwdriver stuck in Esteban Vera's forehead just above his right eye, and was pulled out by his mother before she called 911, officials said.

``I've heard of stabbings with a screwdriver but nothing this severe,'' said Otis Whinery, Kern County sheriff's senior deputy. ``This went into his head three or four inches.''

The boy's 14-year-old brother was arrested on suspicion of assault and was being held Friday at the Kern County Juvenile Hall, deputies said. The older brother had been angry about the broken door to his bedroom, and believed the younger brother was responsible, deputies said.

At Antelope Valley Hospital, doctors decided Esteban Vera's injury was life-threatening because the tool had punctured his skull and penetrated into his brain. He was flown by helicopter to Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center for immediate surgery.

``He's alert and responding to commands,'' said Adelaida De La Cerda, a spokesperson for the hospital. ``He underwent surgery to repair the wounds.''

Although the two brothers had argued about the broken door the previous day, there was no physical altercation, Whinery said.

``The next day, the older brother - still mad about the incident - went to the kitchen where he grabbed a screwdriver and went to the bedroom where the victim was playing with a younger brother,'' said Whinery. ``The victim was standing in the closet exactly five feet away and (the brother) threw the screwdriver directly at the victim, striking him in the forehead.''