Maple Shade, NJ Teen the Victim of Hit and Run in Hawaii

All 19-year-old Christian DeCola wanted in Hawaii was to get an education. Instead, the Maple Shade native got hit by a driver who took off after the accident.

I can't imagine how scary that must have been for Christian, but also for his family back here in South Jersey, thousands of miles away from him.

On the night of February 12th, DeCola, a college student studying in Honolulu, was making a food delivery on his moped when he was struck by a vehicle. Before fleeing the scene, the driver backed over Christian a SECOND time, 6abc reports. He was left with a traumatic brain injury, a fractured skull, and a fractured kneecap, and will need occupational, physical, and speech therapy.

Thankfully, Decola survived and is reportedly coming home. However, medical transport from Hawaii back to the east coast is not covered by the DeCola family's insurance. But his hometown community stepped up and raised the funds needed to fly Christian back home.

He'll reportedly continue his rehabilitation at Kessler Institute in Marlton, where his family will be able to offer him support locally instead of from afar.

There's no word on whether the person responsible for hitting Christian and driving away, leaving him badly injured on the side of the road, has been identified or apprehended.

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We wish Christian a speedy recovery, and hope he'll be back to singing and playing guitar very soon, two things his mom Valerie DeCola told 6abc Christian loves to do.