A recent graduate who was critically injured in a hit-and-run accident Sept. 29 will be leaving Duke University Hospital to continue her recovery at a rehabilitation clinic within the next 10 days, her father said Wednesday.
Caitlin Donnelly, Trinity '06 and a former Chronicle staff member, suffered severe head injuries-including brain swelling and skull and facial fractures-after being struck Homecoming Weekend on LaSalle Street.
Although the car involved was found days after the incident in a Duke Manor apartment complex parking lot, no arrest has been made in the case.
"Caitlin has been very alert and recognizes everybody.... The doctors are very, very optimistic that she's going to make a full recovery," her father, Brian Donnelly said. "We're going to pursue [the case], but our first priority is making sure she gets better."
Caitlin Donnelly is expected to be transferred to the Kessler Rehabilitation Institute in New Jersey next week for both physical and neurological rehabilitation, he said.
She has been receiving treatment at DUH since her accident, including spending four weeks in the neurological intensive care unit.
"[Caitlin] needs a lot of work. She still has a fracture in her back and a fracture in her leg that need to be dealt with," her father said, adding that she will likely be in a back brace or cast for the next month and a half.
"Duke Hospital has been absolutely amazing in every respect and the administration-especially Dean Sue [Wasiolek, assistant vice president for student affairs]-has been wonderful to our family," he said.
The Kessler Institute is located near the family's home in Towaco, N.J.
"Family members can visit-that's really important," Brian Donnelly said. "She would definitely appreciate either seeing people she still knows at Duke or she would love getting cards or letters from them."
He added that next week he also expects to talk to the Durham Police Department to assess the status of the case.
"To be honest, our focus has been on making sure [Caitlin] gets better, and this investigation is something secondary to us," he said.
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