Cobb County police are searching for a driver who struck an 8-year-old boy and fled the scene, leaving the child in a coma.
Eesah Johnson was hit Monday afternoon while crossing Olive Springs Road in Marietta on his way to a friend’s house after school, the child’s grandmother told Channel 2 Action News.
Johnson, a second grader at LaBelle Elementary, remains on life support at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite after suffering head trauma and several broken bones in the collision.
“Please help me find this person that hit my grandbaby,” Raquel Young pleaded with the news station Thursday. “I’m asking you, please.”
Police said they are searching for a dark blue or black BMW X3 SUV with damage to the driver’s-side headlight area.
“We want to find this person, obviously, and hold them responsible,” Cobb police spokesman Officer Neil Penirelli told AJC.com.
Credit: Cobb County Police Department
Credit: Cobb County Police Department
Witnesses said the impact of the collision launched the child about 30 feet down the road, Channel 2 reported.
Young told the news station that Johnson looked both ways before crossing the street when the car “came out of nowhere.”
“Whoever you are, it’s pain. It hurts. It’s hard,” Young said, calling the driver of the vehicle that struck her grandson a coward. “Who hits a baby and just goes? ... Turn yourself in.”
The Cobb County School District said a community fundraiser is being held at LaBelle Elementary to help support Johnson’s family.
The school is accepting monetary donations, gas cards, gift cards and meal cards for Johnson’s family through May 23, the district said. Donations can be made out to LaBelle Elementary’s community-based fundraiser and sent to 230 Cresson Drive SW, Marietta, GA, 30060.
“Our staff is focused on providing support to the entire school community during this difficult time,” a district spokeswoman said in a statement.
Anyone with information about the collision is asked to contact Cobb police.
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