Family Of Beloved Fanwood Woman In Coma Face Tragic Decision

FANWOOD, NJ — While the search continues to find the vehicle wanted in connection with a hit-and-run that critically injured a Fanwood woman, the family of the victim are now faced with making a tragic decision.

The beloved second grade teacher at Beechwood School in Mountainside, Meghan Crilly, 35, of Fanwood, is clinging to life at Newark University Hospital where she has already undergone multiple surgeries, and currently is in a coma, according Dakota Osmun, who set up the GoFundMe site. (See Related: Community Rallies Around Hit-And-Run Fanwood Woman)

Now Meghan's father, Thomas, speaking in an ABC7 Eyewitness News interview, said the family will need to decide if they will take her off of life support by the end of the week. "We want to do right by Meghan," Thomas said to ABC7.

"Meg’s condition remains the same. She’s still in a coma. During the past week, she has had spinal and pelvic surgery," according to an update on the GoFundMe site.

Crilly has spinal damage, a broken pelvis, a broken ankle, and a broken tibia as a result of the crash. Her spleen was also removed, her liver was lacerated, and she has internal bleeding, according to the GoFundMe site.

Crilly, who is known for her "beautiful spirit and a smile that brightens up any room she walks into," was hit while crossing N. Wood Avenue in the area of St. George Avenue in Linden just before 2 a.m. on Jan. 20, Linden Police said.

The vehicle fled from the scene and has been identified as a red 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, possibly with tinted windows and a sunroof. (Related: Video Shows Jeep Wanted In Hit-And-Run Of Fanwood Woman)

A new video with the wanted vehicle was released on Tuesday and Crimestoppers is also offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the person responsible. (See Related: $10K Reward, New Video Released In Hit-And-Run Of Fanwood Woman)

The GoFundMe site was set up on Wednesday, Jan. 23 and has already raised more than $51,000, exceeding the $35,000 goal. Funds received will be used to alleviate the financial strain brought on by Crilly's treatments.

Anyone with information on the hit and run is urged to contact Investigator Jimmy Solano at 908-474-8505.

(Image via GoFundMe, a promotional partner of Patch: Meghan Crilly. Videos via Linden Police)

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