FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WTHR) - A local college student is fighting for his life, hundreds of miles away from home.
Andrew "Drew" Akers' spring break trip to Fort Lauderdale took a frightening turn after a hit-and-run crash that put him in the hospital.
The 21-year-old graduated from Fishers High School and is now a junior at Ball State University.
Monday morning, Drew's parents got the call no parent ever wants to get. A doctor called relatives from a hospital in Florida, telling them that Drew was critically injured after being hit while crossing the street.
"He said, 'This is a call that we never want to make,'" Diane Akers said. "And then let us know what happened to our son."
"We talk to him and he hears us. He nods. Shakes his head. He squeezes my hand and he moves his extremities, which they say is really good. Which means he's doing better than they ever expected," Drew's dad Bill explained.
"I don't know how anyone knows they hit someone in the roadway like that, a human being, can leave them in the road and not even care or come back and check on them," Bill Akers said. "Thank God for those people that stopped."
That driver is still out there.
Witnesses who saw Drew get hit stopped traffic, called 911, and stayed until help came.
"We want to meet them if we ever could and say thank you for being there for our son when no one could," said Bill.
The family acknowledged the support they're received in Florida, in Indiana and from Drew's fraternity at Ball State, Theta Chi.
"Bill and I are so grateful to the people who have reached out to us and helped us during this very difficult time," said Diane.
The family knows there are more hard days ahead. Drew's not out of the woods yet.
"They said it's not going to be a sprint race. It's going to be a marathon. It's going to take some time," Diane added.
Still, they're hopeful Drew can make a full recovery.
Doctors have told Drew's parents it will be at least two weeks, perhaps a month, before they can think about bringing Drew home. For now, Drew's classes at Ball State on hold. Recovery is the priority right now.
Drew's fraternity brothers have raised close to $10,000 in just over 24 hours on a GoFundMe page they set up for Drew's medical expenses.