Boy, 8, in coma after hit-and-run; family makes emotional plea to driver

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Police are looking for the driver who hit an 8-year-old boy while he was outside playing.

According to police, the hit-and-run happened Monday afternoon on Olive Springs Road in Cobb County.

Channel 2 Cobb County bureau chief Chris Jose talked with Eesah Johnson's family Thursday. They said the child suffered brain injuries and is in a coma.

"Please help me find this person. They hit my grandbaby. Please. I’m asking you, please," said Johnson's grandmother, Raquel Young. "(The driver) left him to die."

Newly released 911 calls offer an understanding of what happened. Six callers said the boy was trying to cross the street when the car hit him.

Family members said the boy was trying to get to his friend's house.

“And as he’s walking across the road, looked both ways. Car comes out of nowhere and hits him,” Young said.

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Witnesses told Cobb County police the impact sent the child into the air.

Paramedics rushed the LaBelle Elementary School second-grader to a hospital.

Johnson’s grandmother told Jose the child has severe head trauma, broken arms, broken legs and a busted hip.

Young wants the driver to surrender.

“A coward, that’s what he is. Who hits a baby and just goes?” Young said.

Investigators believe the car involved was a dark blue or black BMW X3 sport utility vehicle. Officials said the BMW has damage to the driver side headlight area.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover medical costs for the child.

Cox Media Group