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Paralyzed victim attends court appearance for woman charged in 2011 hit-and-run

By Brittney Johnson, wsoctv.com
By Brittney Johnson, wsoctv.com

STATESVILLE, N.C. — A Statesville man paralyzed in a hit-and-run more than five years ago is finally closer to getting justice.

Elijah Houpe was hit while riding his bike in November 2011 and left on the side of the chilly road for hours.

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It's taken some time, but his mother, Phyllis Summers, has gotten really good at lifting her son in and out of their car.

"It's been a long, hard journey," she said.

She's had five years to build the strength. Houpe was riding his bike home from a friend's house when a car hit him on North Pointe Boulevard in Statesville.

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The driver took off, leaving the then-19-year-old alone for hours.

"You hit someone and you left him to die," Summers said.

Houpe survived but is now quadriplegic. The accident left him with only limited use of his left arm. His mom encouraged him to remain positive.

"That night, I could've died, but my spirit wouldn't let me," he said.

He focused on rehab.

"I learned how to put my own shirts on. I learned how to feed myself," Houpe said.

And his mom remained persistent in her pursuit of justice

"If this was... my job for the rest of my life, I would actually continue to pursue trying to find a person who did this to my son," Summers said.

Four years passed without any answers. Summers asked Statesville's new police chief to re-examine the case and he called in Highway Patrol.

Trooper Dan Souther said investigators learned they had been looking for a Jeep, but that was not the correct vehicle. He re-examined physical evidence found on the scene and with help from Summers.

He found the evidence led to a Saturn they said belonged to Angela Price.

In July of 2016, troopers said Price confessed. The family was in court Tuesday for her first appearance.

"I just want her to know this is what she did to my son," Summers said.

The family realizes they are only at the beginning of court proceedings but they're grateful for progress. And Houpe credits his mom for getting them this far.

She's been my backbone when (my) backbone doesn't work," Houpe said.

Houpe said his next goal is to get his drivers' license. He's proud that he's made enough progress to move from a power chair to a manual wheelchair.

Price is due back in court March 6. She did not want to comment on the case.

If convicted of felony hit-and-run, she could face three years in prison.

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