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

A 26-year-old woman was arrested and charged with hitting a 14-year-old girl on Thursday while she rode a bicycle in Point Pleasant Boro, and then carrying her on the hood of the car, police said.

Brittany Keifer, 26, of Point Pleasant was arrested in connection with the investigation of the hit-and-run crash. Keifer was charged with fourth-degree assault by auto, third-degree leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury and other offenses.

Keifer turned herself in at police headquarters, accompanied by an attorney, after she drove home that night and covered her car with a tarp, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

Keifer was released on a complaint summons, police said.

The community has been coming to grips with the crash. The girl's full name hasn't been revealed, but a GoFundMe page was set up for her and identified the teen by only her first name, Emma-Mae. More than $11,000 had been raised for her by Saturday.

"She is in ICU with severe injuries and has a very long road to recovery ahead of her," the page said. "Please help me raise money to help her family with all the expenses they will be incurring from this horrible accident. Any amount is appreciated."

The crash happened on 10:31 p.m., when officers responded to the area of Route 88 and Sunset Avenue on a report of a bicyclist struck. Upon arrival, the 14-year-old girl had several lacerations and head trauma, police said.

The girl was transported to Jersey Shore Medical Center in critical condition by Point Pleasant First Aid for further treatment.

The bicyclist was crossing the road diagonally across Route 88 mid-block when she was struck by the vehicle, which was traveling east on Route 88 at the time of the crash, police said.

The driver continued moving after the impact, carrying the girl on the vehicle hood for a distance before she was thrown from of the vehicle, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

The suspect’s vehicle fled the scene after the crash, heading east on Route 88. The suspect's vehicle was described as a dark-colored sedan, police said. The vehicle may have both front-end damage and windshield damage.

Read more: Girl, 14, Critically Hurt In Point Pleasant Boro Hit-And-Run

Officer Ryan Barker and Detective Joe Hynes of the Point Pleasant Police Department conducted the crash investigation with the assistance of Detective Anthony Carrington III and other members of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office and Ocean County Sheriff’s Department CSI.

Hynes developed and investigated leads after receiving tips and social media postings. Hynes and the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Major Crime Unit subsequently arrested Keifer.

If you have any information about the motor vehicle crash, please contact Detective Joe Hynes at 732-892-0060.

If you wish to remain anonymous please contact the Point Pleasant Police Tips Line at 732-892-0060 and ask for the TIPS line to be connected to submit information to the Point Pleasant Police Department. You will directed to an automatic voice mailbox to leave a message.

Photo courtesy of GoFundMe, a promotional partner of Patch