Related links
HUNTSVILLE, AL -
The family of a four-year-old Madison County boy is offering a $2,000 reward to find out who hit their car on December 26, critically hurting their son. Jacob Austin is still in intensive care at Huntsville Hospital.
Austin is hooked up to monitors. His father, Ronnie Austin, told WHNT NEWS 19 on Monday that his son still has a feeding tube, but has opened his eyes. He still stares to one side, and is not talking yet, but is showing small signs of improvement.
The Austins have put up a $2,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in the case. They are asking anyone with information about the case to call Alabama State Troopers at (256) 533-4202.
The hit-and-run accident happened on Highway 53 at Burwell Road.
"I thought we had got past him because I didn't see him anymore and he still came out and he still hit us in the back right passenger door where my son was sitting," said Ronnie Austin, Jacob's father.
Ronnie Austin then ran around and tried to pry the car door open. Jacob's mother, Denise, jumped to the back seat to try to get him out. It's something a parent never wants to experience.
"It's the most terrifying thing, you know, that a parent can see," sad Denise Austin. "Seeing your little baby, seeing your little baby there so helpless and knowing that the person that did that had no compassion enough to stop or to come forward or anything like that. Knowing that he's just so little back there."
During all the commotion, Ronnie says he remembers seeing a red Ford Explorer.
"Apparently, he took right on off because I didn't see him anymore," said Ronnie Austin.
Jacob has a broken jaw, fracture behind his eye, lacerations on his liver and kidney, and a sheer brain injury. Doctors don't know the extent of the brain injury.
"We may have to start with him from day one, but you know actually that's okay, because we still have our little boy. He's still with us," said Ronnie.
Jacob's family has a fund set up for him at Redstone Federal Credit Union. You can make a contribution to the Jacob Austin Donation Account.
Austin is hooked up to monitors. His father, Ronnie Austin, told WHNT NEWS 19 on Monday that his son still has a feeding tube, but has opened his eyes. He still stares to one side, and is not talking yet, but is showing small signs of improvement.
The Austins have put up a $2,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in the case. They are asking anyone with information about the case to call Alabama State Troopers at (256) 533-4202.
The hit-and-run accident happened on Highway 53 at Burwell Road.
"I thought we had got past him because I didn't see him anymore and he still came out and he still hit us in the back right passenger door where my son was sitting," said Ronnie Austin, Jacob's father.
Ronnie Austin then ran around and tried to pry the car door open. Jacob's mother, Denise, jumped to the back seat to try to get him out. It's something a parent never wants to experience.
"It's the most terrifying thing, you know, that a parent can see," sad Denise Austin. "Seeing your little baby, seeing your little baby there so helpless and knowing that the person that did that had no compassion enough to stop or to come forward or anything like that. Knowing that he's just so little back there."
During all the commotion, Ronnie says he remembers seeing a red Ford Explorer.
"Apparently, he took right on off because I didn't see him anymore," said Ronnie Austin.
Jacob has a broken jaw, fracture behind his eye, lacerations on his liver and kidney, and a sheer brain injury. Doctors don't know the extent of the brain injury.
"We may have to start with him from day one, but you know actually that's okay, because we still have our little boy. He's still with us," said Ronnie.
Jacob's family has a fund set up for him at Redstone Federal Credit Union. You can make a contribution to the Jacob Austin Donation Account.
