Hit-and-Run Victim Now Out of Coma, Moving to the Shepherd Center for Rehab

She has been off the ventilator and breathing on her own for a few days. Her eyes are open and she's responding to stimuli, reports the Athens Banner-Herald .

And now, Emily Bowman, 19, hospitalized since a hit-and-run accident almost three weeks ago, is moving to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta for intensive rehabilitation.

Bartow County resident Wilson Heaton, 22, of Rydal, is the suspected driver who fled the scene and abandoned his red pickup truck nearby. He surrendered to police Wednesday night to face charges including DUI and serious injury by vehicle. A judge , if released.

Bowman had been in a coma at Athens Regional Medical Center since the Feb. 16 incident on Athen's Oak Street.

A Thursday post from the Facebook page Bows for Bowman says:

Day 20, from uncle neal. I can't describe how awesome today was. Today her mom was told she's GOING TO SHEPHERD
TOMORROW!!! If that wasn't awesome enough, in the few days since I've seen Em, she's made enough improvement that her doc
told her mom she's now NOT TECHNICALLY IN A COMA!!! We're here at Emily's house gathering up the list of personal items
Shepherd wants her to have. This on top of the awesome experience we had today at the Buffalo Cafe fundraiser. And thank you, thank you, thank you for all you who came to share it with us. And especially thank you dear Ms. Wright and your daughter
Bronte for coming by to share Bronte's incredible story with Em's mom. What a great day!!

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