Mother seeks justice for son after hit-and-run crash

STATESVILLE, N.C.,None — A Statesville teen remains hospitalized one month after he became the victim of a hit and run.

Elijah Houpe's case remains unsolved.

Statesville Police say Houpe was hit around 4 a.m. on Nov. 11 while riding a bike home from a friend's house on North Pointe Boulevard. The driver, believed to be in a dark-colored Jeep Wrangler, kept going and has managed to elude police.

Houpe's mother, Phyllis Summers, told Eyewitness News she asked police to pull surveillance video after people told her they spotted a vehicle matching the description at a nearby gas station and Lowe's store the morning Houpe was hit.

Summers said, "It's such a small town and you hear all these stories."

Police tell Eyewitness News investigators have checked video from several nearby businesses as recently as today, but so far have not turned up anything useful. Police said information from the public will be key in solving this case.

Summers also offered a plea: "The Jeep, the person who owns the Jeep, please come forward," Summers said. "Tell somebody or turn yourself in."

After spending weeks in critical condition at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, Houpe was moved to hospital's rehabilitation center Monday. His mom said she is grateful for his progress but acknowledges he faces a long road to recovery. In the meantime, Summers will remain by her son's bed, fighting for answers and clinging to hope.

"If it takes the rest of my life, that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to find justice for my son," Summers said. "That's my job for the rest of my life for him."

Statesville Police believe the vehicle involved is a dark Jeep Wrangler with a soft top and front-end damage.

WSOC