A fundraising campaign to help a young woman recovering from a hit and run in Essex has reached its goal.
Maresa Cappelli and her father Frank were involved in a head-on crash on Highway 3 between County Road 8 and Victoria Avenue on June 21.
As of Wednesday evening, the GoFundMe campaign sat at $10,500 of its $10,000 goal.
Maresa, 20, of Kingsville, was in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in a coma and suffering from a broken hand, broken jaw, broken ear canal and brain swelling but her big brother Frankie Cappelli posted an update on GoFundMe.com stating that "Maresa has been moved out of the ICU and moved to the Neuro floor at the hospital."
"Maresa is still not fully aware but she is off life support, and able to open both of her eyes now," said Frankie. "Keep her in your thoughts and prayers, her fight is still not over.
He posted on the campaign page that Maresa, a June graduate from St. Clair College, was on her way home from her job interview at a Windsor dental office when the hit and run happened.
"A blossoming flower, wild child, ready to conquer the world, radiating positivity from every pore," said her brother Frankie. "Ready to get to work in a dental office, ready to purchase her first car, when everything was falling in place for her, tragedy struck."
Her brother said Maresa tried to swerve to avoid the collision.
"In doing so she took the brunt of the collision and saved our fathers life, leaving him with three broken ribs and suffering from guilt," he added. "Her life will forever be changed."
Frankie also said the money will help with lawyer fees, travel fees to London, future hospital fees, missed wages and much more.
"Battling like a fierce warrior. The road is long, the sun might not always shine, but with all the support and love of hundreds, she will get through this, and our family will be whole again," her brother said.
Maresa had her 20th birthday just 11 days before the crash.
A suspect was arrested by the Ontario Provincial Police six days later.
Stephen Brewster, 32, of Windsor, has been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm, driving while under suspension, failing to stop at the scene of an accident that caused bodily harm, possession of property obtained by crime, operating a vehicle without insurance, and using a plate not authorized for a motor vehicle.
