Stranded motorist who was killed in hit-and-run is ID’d

Two 20-something motorists died early Sunday in a hit-and-run accident after one of their vehicles stalled and the other motorist came to the rescue of the stranded driver.

The stranded motorist now has been identified by relatives as Joshua Eldridge, 23. He found himself stranded around 3:30 a.m. on Interstate 45 near Cypress Station when his car stalled. He was heading home from a family function, according to KTRK.

Juan Flores, a 24-yearold father of three, was on his way to meet his family and stopped to aid Eldridge. While the two drivers were out of their vehicles, a white Ford F-150 struck the rear of the stalled Dodge Charger. A Honda Civic traveling behind the white pickup swerved to avoid the crash and hit Eldridge and Flores.

Flores died at the scene, and Eldridge died at Memorial Hermann Hospital.

While paramedics were tending to the men, the driver of the Ford pickup fled the scene, police said shortly after the incident.

Eldridge’s father, Darrell, wrote a Facebook post Monday about his son.

“While I can’t explain the pain, emptiness and darkness I am fighting, my family is lightened with the remarkable support from friends and mainly our vast and extended family,” he said. “I fight every day to keep mothers/fathers from burying their sons. … I never imagined I would be preparing to bury mine … rest easy my beautiful boy. Daddy loves you.”

Eldridge graduated from Spring High School and attended Tyler Community College, according to his profiles on social media. He aspired to be a sports marketer, according to the GoFundMe page created to cover Eldridge’s funeral expenses.

The funeral is set for Saturday at Mt. Zion Baptist Church at 2301 Nagle St. The viewing is from 9- 10:55 a.m., and the memorial service will follow at 11 a.m.

Flores’ funeral is set for 5-8 p.m. Friday at the Iglesia Bautista Nueva Jerusalem at 619 Port St.