CHESTER, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A man has been arrested and charged in connection with a hit-and-run in Delaware County earlier this month that left a child paralyzed.
Ny'Leek Ellison was struck near the intersection of 9th and Tilghman streets on Feb. 4. Chester police say the 8-year-old boy was with his brother getting off a SEPTA bus after school when 22-year-old Caleb Campbell went around the bus, hit him, then drove off.
Officials say the boy was taken to Crozer Chester Medical Center, but due to the severity of his injuries, he was airlifted to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
According to a GoFundMe page created by Ellison’s aunt, he is paralyzed from the neck down and has “a long and extensive recovering journey ahead.”
Ellison’s mother, Anita Carrington, says she’s still in shock.
“I'm just lost for words for real, to be honest with you, because I had to watch my son in suffer mode for three weeks while this man was out here on the run, but now my son is excited, I'm excited, we're happy.”
Doctors say Ellison is showing progress but will have to relearn basic functions.
“He's doing real good, but for right now, he is still not able to move. He's still in the paralyzed state,” his mother said. “The road to recovery don't begin until we get home. We need as much support as possible.”
Campbell was arrested on Feb. 27.
According to Chester police, Campbell was not the owner of the vehicle he was driving the day of the crash, and he did not have a license with him. He faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault by vehicle. He is being held on $500,000 cash bail.
A walk for Ellison is scheduled for Saturday, March 1, at noon. It will start on Tilghman Street and end outside the Chester Police Headquarters. Organizers ask attendees to bring signs, banners and positive energy.