More Details On Critically Hurt Point Pleasant Girl's Recovery

A 14-year-old Point Pleasant girl continues to battle after she was struck by a hit-and-run driver earlier this month, and then carried on the hood of the car, according to family and friends.

Emma Mae, whose last name Patch is withholding out of respect for the family, was moved to another undisclosed hospital that specializes in brain traumas, according to family and friends.

"They are able to give her the care she needs at this time," her friend, Kristen Cutrona, who has been speaking for the family, posted on Emma's GoFundMe page. "She is having severe migraines due to having a concussion as well as the bleed on the brain and fractured skull."

"But she is the strongest kid I know and one hell of a fighter," Cutrona posted on the page.

As she undergoes additional care, her fundraising goal has been raised to $50,000 on the GoFundMe page. More than $26,000 has been raised for Emma's recovery.

"She has a long recovery ahead of her but she’s still alive and I am forever grateful for all the prayers for keeping her that way," Cutrona posted. "Thank you to everyone for all the well wishes and prayers. Means so much to us."

A 26-year-old woman was arrested and charged with hitting Emma, a popular, accomplished cheerleader who will be a freshman at Point Pleasant Boro High School in September.

Brittany Keifer, 26, of Point Pleasant was arrested in connection with the investigation of the Aug. 9 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 on Aug. 9 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 crash happened at 10:31 p.m., when officers responded in the area of Route 88 and Sunset Avenue to a report of a bicyclist struck. Upon arrival, the 14-year-old girl had several lacerations and head trauma, police said.

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

Emma 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.

Photos courtesy of GoFundMe, a promotional partner of Patch, and Kristen Cutrona