Crime & Safety

More Details: Hit-And-Run Critically Hurt Point Pleasant Girl

The family provided details on the 14-year-old girl's status. The suspect's car was hidden under a tarp before her arrest, authorities say.

Emma is not out of the woods. But the talented and popular cheerleader is fighting, and the outpouring of support is "incredible."

This is how family and friends of 14-year-old Emma Mae portrayed her recovery this weekend as more details emerged in the hit-and-run crash that shocked the Point Pleasant Boro community this week. Patch, out of respect of the family, is not yet publishing her last name.

"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."

Find out what's happening in Point Pleasantfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

If anyone is interested in ordering a T-shirt to help support Emma, click here and here to get more information.

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

Find out what's happening in Point Pleasantfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Keifer was released on a complaint summons, police said.

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

Meanwhile, Emma's mother, Stephanie, reported on Saturday that her daughter is still in critical care on the pediatric ICU floor at Jersey Shore Medical Center. Her skull is fractured in three places, but the hematoma on the brain is not as large as it has been, and it went down a little bit, she said.

"She is not out of the woods just yet," her mother said. "The bleed can come back at any time, but for now, she has gone from getting neurological exams every one hour to now every two hours. She has passed every exam so far."

On the GoFundMe page, Stephanie said Emma has gotten sick every time they try to get her to sit up or if she moves around too much, "but they say that is expected."

"Hoping tomorrow (Sunday) we can get her out of bed and sitting up in a chair," Stephanie said.

"Thank you for all the prayers and well wishes. Please continue to pray for Emma Mae. She has a long road ahead of her."

Cutrona said Emma will be attending Point Pleasant Boro High School as a freshman this September. Emma is an accomplished cheerleader who has performed publicly in various exhibitions.

Cutrona said she's been in "countless competitions. She's an extremely talented tumbler."

"The outpouring of support for her is so incredible," Cutrona said. "Her mom is so beyond grateful for all the love and support they are receiving even from strangers."

Photo courtesy of GoFundMe, a promotional partner of Patch.

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