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Mother searches for answers as daughter is in coma after Norfolk hit-and-run

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Posted at 12:12 PM, Mar 07, 2022
and last updated 2022-03-12 14:22:45-05

NORFOLK, Va. - A 16-year-old is fighting for her life after being struck by a car that fled the scene, one week ago in Norfolk.

It happened on February 28 at the intersection of Virginia Beach Boulevard and Park Avenue. 16-year-old Donasia Lee was walking to Booker T. Washington High School when she was struck by a vehicle.

"She is in a coma, right now there is swelling on her brain, but it's going down," said Christina Lee, Donasia's mother.

A drastic difference from Friday, where a Go Fund me showed that recovery was unlikely and the family was saying their goodbyes.

"It's gonna be a process, I know she can bounce back from this. She is resilient," Lee said.

Her mother said Donasia loved to cook, was in the Junior ROTC program and had aspirations to join the military.

"She was fun, loving, she loves her brother and sister, caring person, cares about others more than herself," Lee said.

"It makes me upset that same thing happened Tuesday. It was at night, they caught that person, hers was in broad daylight," Lee said.

"Our prayer is God will not let people rest until that person is brought to justice," said Pastor Geoffrey Guns.

Donasia's church family at Second Cavalry Baptist, where the teen was in the youth ministry, is rallying around Donasia's mother and five siblings.

"No one knows who did this," Guns said.

"[Hit-and-run crashes] are very frustrating and heartbreaking for prosecutors," said Ramin Fatehi, Norfolk's Commonwealth's Attorney.

Fatehi says Norfolk Police have very little to go on, with no cameras and no witnesses coming forward.

"Police have collected physical evidence at scene they hope that may lead to narrowing down what kind of vehicle committed in this crime," he said.

The driver fled the scene and slammed into Donasia, making this situation far worse not only for prosecutors but the family.

"Leaving the scene of accident where someone is injured and killed is a felony, reason it is is we want people to live," Fatehi said.

"I just don't understand why no one is saying anything. I have so many emotions, I am mad, I am upset, and I am hurt," Lee said.

Related: Parents call for larger school zones after Norfolk student critically injured in hit & run crash while walking to school