Man arrested in hit-and-run death of teen motorcyclist

Eric Bryan Ellison, 34, charged with failure to stop, render aid, causing death

NEW CANEY, Texas – Officials arrested a man in connection to a hit-and-run crash that left an 18-year-old dead Saturday.

A New Caney family is devastated after their 18-year-old loved one died in a motorcycle wreck Saturday morning.

"It's a big hole. A big hole left in my heart," said father Joe Willis.

"There's no words for how I feel. I'm a mother of five with one gone," said mother Misty Willis.

Troopers said their oldest son Tamon Willis, 18, was riding his motorcycle on FM 1485 and Roadway Lane just after 5 a.m. Saturday when a driver in a Chevy Uplander ran a stop sign and collided with Willis. Troopers said the driver didn't stop and Willis died.

"He had a heart the size of America," said Joe Willis.

Willis' family said he was on his way to work as a valet driver.

"An 18-year-old kid getting up at 5 o'clock in the morning to go to work says a lot. He worked two jobs and going to school. He was a good kid."

Willis' family members said he was a freshman at the University of Houston who loved spending time with his four younger siblings.

"We taught him values. We taught him morals. We taught him integrity and responsibility, obviously," said Misty Willis.

Eric Bryan Ellison, 34, was arrested Sunday and charged with failure to stop and render aid, causing death.

"If he would've stopped, he could've helped. He could've and stop the other vehicles before it caused any damage," said Joe Willis. "You're a sorry piece of work. That's for sure."

Willis' family said his birthday was Jan. 14 and they hoped to have his funeral on the same day to celebrate his life.

Anyone with information on the crash is askeded to contact the Montgomery County Crime Stoppers office at 800-392-7867 or visit montgomerycountycrimestoppers.org. 


About the Authors:

Reporter, family-oriented, sports fanatic, proud Houstonian.

Dawn Jorgenson, Graham Media Group Branded Content Managing Editor, began working with the group in April 2013. She graduated from Texas State University with a degree in electronic media.