Man charged with striking, killing 13-year-old with vehicle
WENDELL, N.C. (WTVD) -- State troopers have arrested the driver of a car that they say killed a 13-year-old at a Wake County bus stop. Sgt. Jeff Gordon said that Efren Vences, of Clayton, was arrested in Granville County a little after 4 p.m.
The hit-and-run happened on Edgemont Road near Wendell Tuesday morning.
Troopers said Keith Jones Jr. was standing near the road waiting at a school bus stop around 7 a.m. when it happened. His father found him lying face down in a ditch.
"We picked him up and pulled him towards the road. And then, maybe two or three minutes, til she started doing CPR on him," said Keith Jones, Sr.
"As a mother, you are praying for hope. You are praying for a miracle," said his mother, D. Marie Jones. "I did the best I could."
The bus headed to Wendell Middle School that Jones was waiting for pulled up to the accident scene right after it happened. Witnesses said the bus driver got off and tried to help. Harry Mickell told ABC11 his daughter was on board the bus and knew Jones.
"It was time for the young man to go to school and learn, not to be lying in a hospital or in a morgue," he said.
The boy was rushed to WakeMed where he was later pronounced dead.
Vences has since been charged with misdemeanor death by a motor vehicle, felony hit-and-run, and having no operator's license. Loved ones say he was at work in Virginia when a relative saw the description of the car on the news.
"His cousin calls him and says you need to call the police because I saw your car on the news," said Dava Saunders, who shares a child with Vences.
The car was found at a residence on Suitts Store Road in Granville County. Vences' girlfriend said he had parked there and carpooled with a co-worker. He is now being held on a $35,000 bond.
"If he would have known he hit somebody, he would have stopped immediately. This is a man that would literally help a dying dog on the side of the road," said Saunders, "I just know that it wasn't intentional. He was absolutely devastated, but he immediately turned himself in. It was a tragic accident."
The Joneses said their son loved to play football and wanted to be the captain of his team, the Knightdale Dragons.
Instead of putting on pads and practicing Tuesday night coaches and his teammates held a prayer vigil in Jones' memory. Keith played running back and almost scored his first touchdown at Saturday's game.
"He may not get it here, but I know he's going to get it up there," said Head Coach Darrell Thomas, who later became emotional when talking about how much he loves his players. "Those are my boys. Those are my boys. There's nothing I wouldn't do for them."
Thomas and Assistant Coach Ray Issac said Jones had the biggest smile and the biggest heart. It's something his mother said the coaches always told them and inspired them to be generous in the midst of such heartache.
"He's a little kid with heart. And because of that, when we were asked did we want to donate, we are in the process of donating his heart," said D. Marie Jones.
A website has set up to help the family cover Keith's funeral expenses. Click here to donate.
