The victim in this crash is 55-year-old Mary Pena Jackson. She was a loved mother and grandmother. She was on her way to church New Year's Eve with her grandson in the car with her when a car made a U-turn in front of her and then struck them. Jackson died shortly after the crash. Her grandson was injured.
The driver of the car that made the U-turn fled the scene, however the passenger in his car was injured. Investigators identified him as Sam Carson. He was taken to a hospital.
Relatives gathered at the scene Sunday, bringing flowers, putting a cross in the ground and saying a prayer, asking that driver to come forward and turn himself in to the sheriff's office.
"We were brought in to believe in God and know that everything is going to be OK," said the victim's daughter, Rokeshia Holmes. "Right now, my faith is being tested a little bit. I know that she is in a better place, but it still doesn't make us feel better here because I need my mom here with me."
"We wished that the person would have stayed here to help her. At least he had enough strength to run away. He could have had enough strength to see if the other people were OK," said the victim's daughter, Tiffany Holmes.
Jackson's grandson was released from the hospital Sunday afternoon.
If you have any information that will help investigators find the driver, you're asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
