A freshman at the University of Albany is now in a medically induced coma after she was the victim of a hit-and-run that city officials described as an instance of "unconscionable depravity."
Alexa Kropf, 18, was struck by a dirt bike and thrown into the air, shortly after midnight on Saturday, the Albany Police Department announced in a statement on Facebook.
"Multiple witnesses stated they observed a male driving an illegal dirt bike at a high rate of speed while weaving in and out of groups of people in the roadway," the post read.
Following the accident, Kropf was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was placed in a medically induced coma. In addition to a traumatic head injury, she is also suffering from bruised ribs and lungs and multiple broken bones, according to WRGB.
"It's pretty much hour to hour right now, not even day to day," Kropf's father, Jim, told the outlet. "It's very unnerving as a parent. It's a phone call that no parent would want to receive."
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan and Police Chief Eric Hawkins released a joint statement vowing to use "every resource" at their disposal to apprehend the person responsible for hitting Kropf.
"Based on the initial investigation, it is clear this individual weaponized an illegal vehicle against innocent civilians in our community," the statement read. "We strongly urge anyone with information about the suspect of this heinous act to come forward and share that information with law enforcement officials."
The officials' statement also reminded residents that it is illegal to operate off-road vehicles, including ATVs and dirt bikes, on any street or sidewalk, or in any public park in Albany. In addition to criminal charges for the hit and run, the suspect could also have the dirt bike repossessed and face a fine of up to $3,000.
A GoFundMe campaign, organized by a family friend, has raised more than $60,000 to cover Kropf's medical expenses - including multiple surgeries.
