Mom Pleads For Help After Hit-And-Run Driver Leaves Son Brain Damaged

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The mother of a 9-year-old boy left brain damaged by a hit-and-run driver is pleading for the public's help in tracking down the culprit.

Investigators say on Oct. 19, Jeremiah Davis was riding his bright red bicycle in broad daylight near the intersection of 104th Street and Harvard Boulevard when a car hit him and kept going.

"I understand it was an accident," says the boy's mother, Angel Davis. "But the problem is that you just left Jeremiah on the side of the street."

Jeremiah has only recently woken up from a coma, and is living full time at a children's hospital in Orange. He is relearning how to brush his teeth and to walk.

Jeremiah is unaware of his surroundings and cannot yet communicate verbally. Hospital therapists compare it to living within a nightmare. He is often inconsolable.

"Not being able to know what's wrong," says Davis, "not being able just to fix his hurt, it's hard."

Jeremiah's four younger siblings visit the once athletic fourth grader frequently. "He's the oldest, so they all look up to him," says Davis. "They're not understanding what's wrong."

Investigators say witnesses described the vehicle that hit Jeremiah as a late model Nissan Altima, dark in color. Davis says other witnesses have stated the vehicle was a Kia.

Police believe people in the residential neighborhood may have seen more than what has been reported so far.

Davis is pleading for anyone who has additional information to contact the LAPD.