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Mother Mourns Son She Lost In Non-Contact Hit-And-Run Accident

GLENDORA (CBS) — A mother is in mourning tonight and planning for her son's funeral.

The young man, Adam Rowland, died a few days after his car crashed on the 57 Freeway.

On Saturday, just after noon, Rowland swerved to avoid another vehicle -- police believe a distracted driver -- and Rowland and his passenger hit a guard rail. Police call that a non-contact hit-and-run crash.

Rowland was declared dead on July 3rd.

Suraya Fadel, reporting for CBS2 and KCAL9, talked to his devastated mother about her son and her loss.

Says Gina Rowland, "No parent should have to bury their child."

She says Adam was her oldest child and her best friend. "There is a big hole in me. A big chunk of me has been taken out."

Rowland will always remember her son as a caring, loving man with a big heart. "He was creative. He was a good boy. He didn't smoke or drink or do drugs. He was intelligent and highly spiritual. He was wonderful, a parent's dream."

The 24-year-old was active in the Grace Church of Glendora. His services will be held there Friday.

Kerri Rivas, of the CHP, says non-contact hit-and-run accidents are more common than people think. "If you're driving in a way that someone causes you to have to take evasive action, it does not have to be contact to be and hit-and-run."

Investigators say they have few leads or tips. They're asking any potential witnesses to come forward.

For Rowland's mother, she is having trouble thinking about the void. "Everyone loved him. He took care of us."

Memories of her son will help her get through her incredible loss, Fadel reports.

"He was a great man. You couldn't have asked for a better son."

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