ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — An Orlando woman who was struck by a hit-and-run driver in October emerged from a 14-day coma Friday.
Karen Elghezousani, 40, had just finished grocery shopping Oct. 23 when she was struck by a vehicle in the parking lot of the Aldi at West Colonial Drive and North Kirkman Road
The driver, who fled the scene, has yet to be identified, and that has the woman’s relatives fearful her case will grow cold.
“She had just purchased her groceries and she was going home to cook her fiancé some dinner,” Keith Pavlick, the victim’s brother, said.” Just walking out to the parking lot, like any other normal day, she... got hit and the guy drove off and left her to die”
Though his sister is no longer in a coma, Pavlick said she remains in serious condition at Orlando Regional Medical Center. He said her doctors aren’t yet certain if she’ll ever fully recover from her injuries.
“Thankfully, yesterday she opened her eyes for the first time,” Pavlick said Saturday. “Unfortunately, we don't know if she has any speech ability yet. We don't know about her movements yet or anything of that nature. All we know is that she is opening her eyes.”
Pavlick describes his sister as a shy but hardworking woman who cares deeply about others, and he says he can’t fathom how someone would leave her to die.
“I’m actually kind of hurt that there are human beings out there who wouldn't cherish another person's life enough to stop, check on them and make sure that they're OK,” Pavlick said.
Witnesses told troopers a four-door Toyota hit the woman and a grey Nissan Altima appeared to follow the car to try to stop it, but investigators haven’t been able to contact the driver of that Nissan.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Florida Highway Patrol at 407-737-2213 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477.
WFTV
