Nine-year-old carried friend to safety

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A 10-year-old is recovering in the hospital after he was hit by a driver in east Houston who then fled the scene. That's when the youngster's nine-year-old best friend jumped into action, carried him home, and called 911.

[SIGN UP: Get headlines and breaking news sent to you]

Memorial Hermann Hospital officials tell Eyewitness News that Eric Kelley is listed as stable. He and his friend were on their way home on their bicycles around 7pm Tuesday when police say an SUV ran a stop sign at Avenue E at Cesar Chavez and hit Kelley.

Police said the vehicle stopped long enough for someone to get out, remove the bike from underneath the car, and leave the scene.

In the meantime, nine-year-old Ruben Nuncio said he threw his injured friend over his shoulder and carried him home.

"His head was right here where my hood's at. I carried him all the way to Sherman. Then when we got to the house and his mom started running out and crying. Everybody started chasing after the car," said Nuncio.

"My son was in shock, telling me that they didn't even stop at the stop sign. They ran over him. They didn't ask if he was okay," said Ruben's mother, Jessica Nuncio.

Houston police found the SUV at a nearby home. The front bumper was damaged. Officers took two people in for questioning, a man and a woman. Police are not sure who was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident.

The family of Eric Kelley said it appears Kelley will be okay.

      Headline check | 100 most recent local stories | News alerts
            Slideshow archive | ABC13 wireless | Help solve crimes

Get more Local »

local, jessica willey

• Comment Now
• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•