A family is in shock after their son and brother was left for dead on the side of the road on Tuesday morning.

Marcus Haslehurst and a friend were walking along Highway 19A in Merville after a sleepover at a friend’s house.

Marcus was heading home when he was struck by a vehicle around 5:30 a.m.

The 18-year-old was thrown into a ditch and his friend immediately performed CPR on Marcus.

The driver took off southbound towards Courtenay, according to RCMP.

“I think it was grotesque,” Marcus’ sister, Sarah Wilkinson, said. “Like he died, if they had stayed or checked or anything maybe we’d still have our brother.”

The highway was shut down in both directions for 10 hours while police investigated.

On Wednesday, a ferry passenger spotted the damaged vehicle in a ferry lineup en route to the Lower Mainland.

A 29-year-old man was arrested in Burnaby for criminal negligence causing death and failing to remain at the scene of an accident.

Marcus’ brother said he’s in disbelief as the family tries to piece together what happened.

“There’s nothing you can say or do about a situation like this that can really help or ease some of the pain,” Mathew Wilkinson said.

The teenager’s mom noted that there might be two separate services for her son, one in Merville, where he lived with his father, and a second in Campbell River.

“We would like it open to the community so all his friends and family from both sides can attend and anybody who knew Marcus can come celebrate with us, his life,” Michelle Haslehurst said.

Comox Valley RCMP are asking that anyone who may have taken a photo of the damaged vehicle at the ferry terminal or who may have information on the crash to contact them at (250) 338-1320.

With files from CTV Vancouver Island's Gord Kurbis