CLEVELAND — The woman who was struck by a vehicle in a Cleveland hit-skip has woken up from a coma after a month, according to her father.
26-year-old Ayana Barkley was at Poochie's Deli at 11921 Miles Ave., and was crossing from north to south when she was struck by a westbound vehicle. The vehicle did not stop at the scene and continued west on Miles Avenue.
Three bystanders saw Ayana lying in the street after being struck by the vehicle and pulled her to safety. They told Ayana’s father, Michael Barkley, that people were drag racing down Miles Avenue before they hit his daughter.
Ayana suffered severe trauma and was confined at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center for treatment where she was in a coma.
Michael Barkley said that Ayana woke up from the coma earlier this week and on Thursday, spoke her first words.
Before the hit-skip, Ayana had recently accepted a job as a trauma nurse at a local hospital.
Ayana has a long road to recovery, but her family is hopeful, according to Michael Barkley.
If you have any information on this hit-and-run, you are asked to contact Cleveland police's Accident Investigation Unit at 216-623-5295.
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