Ga. woman out of coma after hit-and-run injury

ATHENS - A 19-year-old Woodstock woman who police say was critically injured by a hit-and-run driver in Athens has emerged from a coma and will now continue her recovery in Atlanta.

The father of Emily Bowman of Woodstock says she is breathing on her own, her eyes are open and she turns her head in response to noises. Dale Bowman says his daughter's neurosurgeon told family members he considers her out of her coma.

Bowman was moved Friday from Athens Regional Medical Center to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta.

Bowman was walking in the grass beside an Athens road three weeks ago when she was struck by a pickup truck that fled the scene.

William Wilson Heaton, 22, of Rydal is charged with drunken driving and leaving the scene of an accident.

Heaton, who turned himself in Wednesday, remained in jail at last report, awaiting an ankle monitor. A judge set bond at $50,000 last week.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2013/3/259161