Family of young woman struck in hit-and-run seek justice; "We need people to come forward"

MILWAUKEE -- A Milwaukee woman suffers a traumatic brain injury just trying to cross the street. She was hit by a van near a Colectivo Coffee -- that van took off, but only after police say one of its occupants stole her purse.

Intersection near Humboldt and Chambers

When the woman arrived at Froedtert Hospital on Wednesday, September 9th, her family says she was a Jane Doe for six hours. That's because her ID had been stolen.

It was her boyfriend who first noticed her missing, and started calling area hospitals.

Her family says she may never fully recover.

"My daughter deserves the chance to have a life. She's 26-years-old," said the victim's mother.

It's been a trying four days for the parents of the hit-and-run victim.

"The right side of her face is temporarily paralyzed -- we hope it's temporary. She's had brain bleeding, brain swelling," said the victim's mother.

The family asked FOX6 News not to reveal their identities -- including the victim of the hit-and-run.

While the young woman's parents speak outside Froedtert Hospital, their daughter is now out of intensive care, recovering from skull fractures and memory loss.

Froedtert Hospital

"She was going to school to become a bilingual medical interpreter and I would love for her to be able to do that," said the victim's mother.

The young woman was crossing the street Wednesday afternoon in Milwaukee, by the Colectivo at Humboldt and Chambers, when she was hit by a van.

Her parents say it was intentional.

"One of the witnesses we spoke with said they pointed at our daughter when she was going to cross the street, they made a three-point turn and deliberately hit her," said the victim's mother.

Police say one of the van's occupants stole her purse before speeding off.

"There was another very kind person who held her head while she was bleeding," said the victim's mother.

Police say a 16-year-old Milwaukee boy has been arrested as they seek other suspects. The woman's parents have learned there were many witnesses.

"We're hoping that whoever has information will go to the police," said the victim's mother.

They want these young men convicted and off the streets. For that to happen, police need positive identifications.

"This is senseless violence and we need people to come forward because police can't do it on their own," said the victim's mother.

As fate would have it, the woman who was hit actually had a phone interview with Froedtert Hospital for a job that same morning. By the afternoon, she was in intensive care.

The victim's family is grateful to everyone who has helped their daughter since the crash.