Family says Ocoee girl struck by car could wake from coma soon

ORLANDO, Fla. — The family of Aubrey Clark is hoping that the 10-year-old girl could wake up from her medically-induced coma any time.

Aubrey was struck by a car as she and a friend were riding their bicycles home from school in Ocoee two weeks ago.

Channel 9 was told Monday that blood flow tests to Aubrey's brain were positive and that she has been taking breaths on her own.

A Facebook page set up to raise money for Aubrey said she suffered damage to 80 percent of her left side of her brain and 20 percent to the right side.

A family member said they are hopeful that Aubrey could come out of her coma soon.

Police said Aubrey and a friend were riding their bikes on a sidewalk when a car drove onto the sidewalk and struck them.

That car then drove away, stopping nearly half a mile from the scene. Aubrey's friend escaped serious injury.

The man who allegedly hit her, Lastevie Howard, 40, was arrested Friday on charges of leaving the scene of an accident and reckless driving.

"There's people who say he obviously fled without stopping to help but we also have him on the camera driving away from the intersection," said Lt. Brad Dreasher of the Ocoee Police Department.

Police said tests did not show alcohol in Howard's system and he was released on a $26,000 bond.

Aubrey's father is an Osceola County firefighter. His fellow firefighters are working to raise money to help the family with Aubrey's medical costs.