Hit-and-run victim still in coma

MIAMI (WSVN) -- A sister rushed to the side of a South Florida graduate student left hospitalized after she ended up in the path of danger.

Melita Jaric is now only breathing through a life support machine. She's been in a coma since police said someone hit her outside of her apartment on Southwest 11th Street at about 4 p.m., Friday. "She was going out to buy toilet paper," said Melida's sister Natasa Jaric. "She cheerfully ran out of the house and told her roommate, 'I'll be back in five minutes I'm just going to go buy some toilet paper at Walgreens.'"

Police said whoever ran over the 43-year-old Doctorate student never stopped. They said they searched everywhere but found no clues and no car description. "She lost quite a bit of blood," said Jaric, "because she wasn't treated and because her whole face is fractured, she could not breathe. She was left at the site with no oxygen, so she had no oxygen for a substantial amount of time to feed her brain."

Her roommate ran outside to help Jaric and called the woman's younger sister who lives in New York. "I picked up the phone," said Jaric, "and it was her roommate, and I just immediately knew something was wrong."

Melita has barely moved since her sister got to her bedside at Jackson Memorial Hospital. "We thought we saw some foot movement," said Jaric, "and she seemed like she was breathing yesterday. Today, it's really the machine breathing for her."

She traveled the world and has earned several degrees from prestigious colleges. "She was in India, she went to Australia," said Jaric. "She would be the first one at any concerts. She loved ballet, and she could crunch numbers and think like nobody else."

Jaric was about to make strides for patients suffering from COPD. Now she is a patient herself, struggling to stay alive with no suspect to blame for running her down. "I don't really want to accept this as an end," said her sister.

Melita's parents have also come into town from Serbia to be with their daughter.

Police said the car responsible should have heavy damage to the front end.

If you have any information on this hit and run, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.

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