{"id":22346,"date":"2024-05-16T11:02:15","date_gmt":"2024-05-16T15:02:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/?p=22346"},"modified":"2024-06-14T08:59:58","modified_gmt":"2024-06-14T12:59:58","slug":"19-year-old-new-york-college-student-in-coma-after-illegal-dirt-bike-hit-and-run","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/2024\/05\/19-year-old-new-york-college-student-in-coma-after-illegal-dirt-bike-hit-and-run","title":{"rendered":"19-Year-Old New York College Student In Coma After Illegal Dirt Bike Hit-and-Run"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Update: Since this post was originally published, the man accused of hitting UAlbany student Alexa Kropf, 18, was arraigned in an Albany Court on charges from the dirt bike incident on April 26, where 18-year-old UAlbany student Alexa Kropf was seriously injured, leading to a weeks-long medically induced coma. Arrested on May 23, Austin Breyette pleaded not guilty in Albany County Court. Allegations claim he struck Kropf at high speed and fled. Furthermore, Breyette faces accusations of hiding evidence related to the accident, including a dirt bike and a Porsche. He is currently held on bail, with Kropf still in recovery from the incident.<\/em><\/p>\n

A University of Albany student is in a coma after she was hit by an \u201cillegal dirt bike\u201d in April just after midnight, according to her family and the Albany Police Department in New York. 19-year-old Alexa Kropf of Long Island is showing minor signs of improvement after undergoing multiple surgeries, and she will have to be medevaced home once she\u2019s released from the hospital. Alexa\u2019s father, Jim, told Fox News Digital, \u201cIt\u2019s a nightmare for a parent. I wish it on no one ever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alexa Kropf has undergone two brain surgeries to remove bleeding and swelling, her father said. She also suffered two broken bones in her lower right leg, fractures in her pelvis, five broken ribs and bruised lungs. Jim Kropf described his daughter as loving, fun, responsible and hard-working. She is \u201ca best friend\u201d to her younger sister, and her younger brother \u201clooks up to her.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added, \u201cWhen you look at this beautiful girl, who now has her head half shaved, and you can see the 50 staples that are in her skull because her skull had been cut open two times for the surgery \u2013 you see that the swelling and the scars and the more staples in her leg\u2026 a feeding tube, oxygen up through her nose, as well \u2013 it\u2019s horrific. Every single time I approach the bed to talk to her, it\u2019s so emotional. And you have to stay positive. It\u2019s such torture \u2013 torture as a parent to have to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n