14-Year-Old Point Pleasant Boro Girl Comes Home After Hit-And-Run

Fourteen-year-old Emma Mae has returned home. And, just like the teenager herself, that's quite amazing.

The talented and popular cheerleader is now in outpatient care, a month after she was critically hurt by a hit-and-run driver whose car struck her, then carried her, before fleeing.

"She is one tough kid," said her mother, Stephanie Gnolfo, "and I truly believe in my heart all the prayers helped keep her alive."

Emma Mae hasn't been given clearance to go back to school yet, where she'll begin her freshman year at Point Pleasant Boro High School. But the community has been doing all they can to keep her spirits up.

Emma Mae and Gnolfo were presented with a $15,153 check by the Point Pleasant Chamber of Commerce following Point Pleasant Boro Give Back Day on Saturday, Aug. 24.

Local businesses asked for donations for Emma, a cheerleader who has performed publicly in various exhibitions.

"She's just an incredible young woman," said her friend, Kristen Cutrona, who has put together a GoFundMe page to help support her recovery. "Smart, talented and an absolute sweetheart."

Brittany Keifer, 26, of Point Pleasant has been arrested in connection with the investigation of the hit-and-run crash. Keifer turned herself in at police headquarters, accompanied by an attorney, after she drove home and her car was hidden under a tarp, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

Keifer was released on a complaint summons, police said.

Read more: Arrest In Hit-And-Run That Critically Hurt Point Pleasant Girl

The incident happened at approximately 10:31 p.m. on Aug. 9 when the Point Pleasant Boro Police Department responded to the area of Route 88 and Sunset Avenue on a report of a hit-and-run, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

The preliminary investigation found that a black sedan traveling eastbound on Route 88 struck the 14-year-old bicyclist as she attempted to cross Route 88, according to the OCPO.

The eastbound vehicle struck the bicyclist as she traveled in a north-to-southbound direction, approximately 150 feet east of the Route 88 and Sunset Avenue intersection. according to the OCPO.

The bicyclist was struck by the front passenger portion of the vehicle, which caused her to roll onto the windshield and hood of the vehicle, the OCPO said.

The vehicle's driver continued driving after the impact, carrying the girl on the vehicle hood for a distance before she was thrown from of the vehicle, the OCPO said.

The black sedan then continued eastbound on Route 88 and fled the scene. The suspect's vehicle possibly sustained damage to the front-end and windshield.

"Just wanted to say thank you to everyone for all the prayers and support to Emma, myself and my family these last three weeks," her mother said. "We are truly grateful and it means so much to us."

Photo courtesy of Stephanie Gnolfo