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CORPUS CHRISTI -- The man accused of running over 17-year-old Christian Carrillo earlier this month, and then leaving the scene, went in front of a judge today.

Eric Acevedo walked into the… Click to Read More and see additional updates

CORPUS CHRISTI -- The man accused of running over 17-year-old Christian Carrillo earlier this month, and then leaving the scene, went in front of a judge today.

Eric Acevedo walked into the courtroom -- wearing his jail uniform -- in shackles and handcuffs.

His attorney asked the judge to lower his bond from $1 million to $50,000.

Defense Attorney Mark Gonzalez argued that $1 million was too high...especially since the district attorney's office first recommended a $100,000 bond.

Gonzalez said, "The jail is filled with kidnappers and sex assault offenders and their bond is not set at $1 million. "

When the defense attorney called Acevedo's wife -- Linda -- to the stand, she said her husband didn't even know what happened until he heard about the hit and run accident on the news.

She says that's when they talked to police.

Linda also said , "He would never hurt an innocent child. I know he wouldn't."

Christian's mother testified too, explaining her son's injuries from a
broken neck and back to busted teeth and brain swelling.

She said he's still on life support and says if Christian ever wakes up, he'll have brain damage.

Misty Taylor said, "No, he's not going to be the same Christian that he was."

The judge decided the $1 million bond was too high.

She took into consideration Acevedo works at the Corpus Christi Army Depot and has family in the area.

So, she doesn't think he'll run away.

She set his bond at $100,000

We tried to talk to Acevedo's wife after the hearing, but she didn't want to answer our questions.

Taylor said, "I know that a million dollars is excessive, but I just don't understand...Christian is in jail right now. He's a prisoner in his own body. So, I don't understand. I don't want this guy free on the streets why we're in here like that."

If Acevedo's family can bail him out, he must follow rules like wearing a GPS monitoring ankle bracelet and he can't drink alcohol.

CORPUS CHRISTI - Judge Sandra Watts has lowered the bond for hit and run suspect Eric Acevedo from one million dollars to $100,000. The decision was made after hearing from families on both sides of the case involving a teen left severely injured in a ditch.

Acevedo is accused of hitting Christian Carrillo as he was walking along Ayers Street early on the morning of March 3rd. A passerby found Carrillo and called 911.

According to court documents, Acevedo had left a nightclub and was headed to a fast food restaurant around the same time Carrillo was hit.

Acevedo and his attorney did meet with police three days after Carrillo was found.

Police arrested Acevedo last week based on information from one of his friends and evidence taken from his maroon Toyota Tacoma.

Carrillo remains in the intensive care unit of Christus Spohn Memorial. His family appeared in court today wearing blue shirts that read, "Christian's Crusaders.'

CORPUS CHRISTI - Hit and run suspect Eric Acevedo is in court this afternoon waiting for a hearing in which his attorney is expected to ask the judge to lower his one million dollar bond.

Acevedo is accused of hitting Christian Carrillo as he was walking along Ayers Street early on the morning of March 3rd. A passerby noticed Carrillo severely injured in a ditch and called 911.

According to court documents, Acevedo had left a nightclub and was headed to a fast food restaurant around the same time Carrillo was hit.

Police arrested Acevedo last week based on information from one of his friends and evidence taken from his maroon Toyota Tacoma.

CORPUS CHRISTI - The arrest affidavit for hit and run suspect Eric Daniel Acevedo details how his friend came forward with information about the crash that critically injured 17-year-old Christian Carrillo as he walked along Ayers near Sunnybrook.

Acevedo is being held on a one million dollar bond for failure to stop and render aid following his arrest this afternoon.

Just after 1 a.m. on March 3rd, Christian Carrillo called a relative to let him know he was walking home from his job at CiCi's Pizza. It was an hour later when a passerby found Carrillo with multiple serious injuries in a ditch along the stretch of road that has no sidewalks.

Investigating officers found the bumper for a maroon 2006-2008 Toyota Tacoma at the crash scene. A search for that type of vehicle turned up six matches in Corpus Christi. One of the vehicles is registered to Eric Daniel Acevedo.

Police did go by the home where the truck was registered but it was not in plain sight.

During the investigation, the Director of Security for NAS Corpus Christi came forward with information of an employee who told his supervisor about Acevedo allegedly admitting to hitting someone with his truck.

Officers met with Acevedo and his attorney at the police department three days after Carrillo was hit. The attorney let police know that his client's truck was currently parked in the garage of a home on the southside of Corpus Christi. At that point investigators were able to get a search warrant for his home.

On Tuesday, investigators met with a friend of Acevedo's who told them he met up with Acevedo at a nightclub along S.P.I.D. on the night of March 2nd. Acevedo told the friend he was going to get Whataburger from the location at S.P.I.D. and Ayers before heading to his grandfather's home.

That same friend told officers he later got a call from Acevedo in which he admitted to being in a "fender bender", according to the affidavit. Acevedo allegedly later admitted to the friend that he hit someone wearing all black clothing, but when he drove past the scene later he was unable to find anything.

Christian Carrillo remains in the intensive care unit of Christus Spohn Memorial. His family tells us he is showing some signs of improvement, including being able to open his eyes halfway and wiggle his toes when asked.

CORPUS CHRISTI - This afternoon Corpus Christi police announced the arrest of Eric Daniel Acevedo, 39, for a hit and run that critically injured 17-yr-old Christian Carrillo. Acevedo will be held on a $1 million bond. He's not yet arrived at the City Detention Center.

Carrillo's family says the teen remains in a coma as his condition worsens after the March 3rd incident.

A passerby found Carrillo in a ditch near Ayers and Sunnybrook around 2 a.m. that night. Carrillo was walking home from his job at Cici's Pizza when he was hit.

The stretch of Ayers does not have sidewalks.

CORPUS CHRISTI -- The teen recently hit by a car, that never stopped, remains on life support in the ICU.

A driver struck Christian Carrillo about a week ago as he walked home from work at Cici's Pizza on Ayers.

Christian may not know it, but a complete stranger, with a special connection has stood by his side for the past week.

Amanda Arriola's become like a part of his family.

They call her "The Lighthouse" because of her positive attitude.

She said, "I'm alive and I'm here, and that's what I need to think about, that's my purpose. Being right here talking and speaking up for Christian is my purpose."

Amanda visits Christian everyday, holding his hand and talking to him.

She understands what he's going through because just two months ago, she too was struck by a hit and run driver.

It happened early New Years Day at Fig and Baldwin.

In the accident, she crushed her pelvis and broke her leg among other injuries.

Amanda said, "If it wasn't for God, I wouldn't be here right now."

It turns out Amanda does physical therapy at Spohn Memorial Hospital, the same hospital where Christian is staying.

When her grandma told her -- she heard about Christian's accident on the news -- Amanda visited him right away.

She said, "When I saw Christian and heard about him and I saw him, it broke my heart to see him with everything, all the swelling. It just crushed me."

But, Amanda stays positive by lighting up Christian's room and his family's hearts with her faith and hope that he will one day wake up.

She said, "Because I'm a survivor and I know he can do it too and I'm going to be there for him no matter what."

Police have not arrested the drivers in either case.

CORPUS CHRISTI -- The mother of a teen hit and run victim says her son took a turn for the worse this weekend.

Last Sunday, a hit and run driver struck 17-year-old Christian Carrillo as he was walking home from work at Cici's Pizza on Ayers.

He went to the hospital in critical condition and right now he's on life support.

Today, his mom told us doctors did CAT scans on Christian and found less brain activity.

They also told her he may never wake up.

If you want to help the family with medical bills, you can donate at any Frost Bank under Christian Carrillo's name.

CORPUS CHRISTI - The family of hit and run victim Christian Carillo says they were told this morning that an attorney has contacted the Corpus Christi Police Department about the case. The public information office says no arrests have been made as of this morning.

Carillo, 17, was hit and left in a ditch along Ayers as he walked home from his job at CiCi's Pizza early Sunday morning. He likely only survived thanks to a passerby who stopped to help and called 911.

Carillo remains in the intensive care unit at Christus Spohn Memorial with a broken back, lung damage and other injuries.

Police say the driver of a maroon '06-'08 Toyota Tacoma fled the scene after hitting Carillo.

If you have any information, call Crime Stoppers at 361-888-TIPS, or submit a tip online at www.888tips.com.

CORPUS CHRISTI -- A family is desperate for answers after their loved one was hit by a car and left for dead on the side of the road. Police are looking for a maroon 2006-2008 Toyota Tacoma with front end damage.

Family members gathered at Spohn Memorial Hospital to pray and support Christian Carrillo, 17, he was walking home from his job at CiCi's Pizza when he was hit on Ayers near Sunnybrook around 1 A.M. Sunday.

"I just love him and I hope he comes out, that's it," his uncle Douglas Grimes said.

"He's an amazing person and I just want this person found because he doesn't deserve it," his little sister Anna Taylor added. "He's in critical condition and his blood pressure is all over the place and he's not doing that well but he's doing better than he was and we're not giving up hope."

Taylor says her brother's ribs were broken and he's suffered some brain injuries. At this point, he can barely keep his eyes open. Despite his injuries, she says he will recover.

"I believe that he can fight through this but we need help finding the person that did this because there's no justice," Taylor said.

The entire family is asking the driver of the car to come forward.

"Even if it was an accident, you know just please come let us know, we do need justice and if not hopefully the cameras around Ayers street will find you, you know just clear your conscious already," Carillo's cousin Amanda Jackson said.

Officers stopped by several businesses on Ayers to get surveillance video that will help them track down the hit and run driver. Meanwhile, Jackson can't thank a passerby, enough for stopping to help him.

"If it wasn't for them you know he wouldn't be here right now and you know we really appreciate them they are our angels," Jackson said.

The family is hoping for a smooth recovery and justice for Carillo. If you have any information, please call police at 888-TIPS

CORPUS CHRISTI - Investigators with the Corpus Christi Police Department are asking whether businesses near CiCi's Pizza on Ayers have surveillance video of a hit and run that seriously injured a 17-year-old early Sunday.

Christian Carillo remains at Christus Spohn Memorial after he was hit while walking home from his job at the pizza parlor around 1 a.m.

A passerby found him lying in a ditch along Ayers with several broken ribs, a broken neck and injuries to his head.

CORPUS CHRISTI - Family members of 17 year old, Christian Carillo gathered at Spohn Memorial to stand by his side, as he fights to recover from serious injuries.

We're told Carillo was walking home from work at CiCi's Pizza on Ayers around 1 am, Sunday morning, when he was struck by a hit and run driver.

A passerby found him lying in a ditch at Ayers and Sunnybrook Drive and he was taken to the hospital with several broken ribs, a broken neck and head trauma.

Police officers did visit the hospital this morning to take down information, but the family says so far, there are no leads as to who hit Carillo and then left him in the road.