Port Augusta hit-run victim Isiah Hodshon’s mother pleads with the driver to come forward

It’s been a year since Leticia Hewett’s son Isiah was killed in a hit-run crash at Port Augusta. She’s still pleading for answers and has revealed Snapchat led her to her son’s body.

The soul of a Port Augusta hit-run crash victim will never be at rest while the identity of the driver responsible for his death remains a mystery, his devastated mother says.

Isiah Hodshon, 20, was left by the road “like an animal” after police believe he was struck by a heavy vehicle on the side of the Augusta Highway on May 30 last year.

Mr Hodshon was walking home from a friend’s house about 6.30pm and was about 2km from home when he was struck. The driver is still at large.

“We’re just hoping every day that we get some closure, a vehicle or a person be held accountable … I feel that Isiah’s soul won’t be resting until somebody has come forward ” Mr Hodshon’s mother Leticia Hewett said.

Isiah Hodshon was killed in a hit-run crash at Port Augusta on May 30, 2021. Pictures: supplied by family.

Exactly one year on, Ms Hewett revealed her worst fears were confirmed the night of the crash through Snapchat maps – an app which can track a phone’s location.

“My eldest son was contacted by one of Isiah’s friends saying that he was on his way home and they’d heard there had been an accident, so I checked Snapchat maps and the map came up to the location where he was,” Ms Hewett said.

Isiah Hodshon with his mother, Leticia, stepdad Neil, and siblings Montel, Shontaine, Jade and Ryan. Picture: Supplied

“It was very heartbreaking. As we were driving up Quorn Rd towards the highway, you could see all the lights from the emergency services and stuff. My heart knew there and then what was about to happen, that it was my child.”

After asking police a series of questions, she discovered the body lying underneath a sheet on the side of the road was her son.

The site where Isiah died has been lit up for people who visit at night. Picture: supplied

Ms Hewett said her son had dreams of becoming a musician, having released a song called Levels the month before his death.

“I miss his smile and the things that he would do to make everyone laugh, he was just a beautiful soul,” she said.

“The pain is unbearable.”

At age 12, Mr Hodshon was diagnosed with rheumatic fever – a complex disease that affects a child’s heart, brain and joints – and he went on to become an ambassador for Rheumatic Heart Disease Australia

The organisation's director, Vicki Wade, made a touching tribute to the young man.

Isiah and his mother Leticia - her favourite photo of the two of them. Picture: supplied

“Isiah, your beautiful face and infectious smile will be remembered by us all,” Ms Wade said.

“Thank you for coming into our lives, for sharing your stories, and making our lives much richer by knowing you.”

When he wasn’t working on his music, Mr Hodshon enjoyed spending time with friends and family.

He was survived by two siblings, Montel, 22, and Shontaine, 19, as well as step-siblings Ryan, 20, and Jade, 19.

Ms Hewett said her family will always be seeking answers.

“I’ll be forever waiting at this point, I wake up every morning in the hope that I’ll get that phone call from police saying someone has a conscious (and came forward),” she said.

“None of us have any closure at this point in time, I don’t think my family will get closure until there is someone accountable, or a vehicle accountable.

“Because it more than likely was an accident, it would just be better to find out.”

She sent a plea to anyone driving on the road the evening of the crash to come forward.

A police spokesman said the matter remained under investigation.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.