Victim of Hit-And-Run Recovering in Hospital

The Adams House dining hall worker who was in a coma Sunday after being struck by a hit-and-run driver is out of the coma and improving, though still in "serious condition" at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).

Kim Daniels, 17, of Somerville, who was dragged by a car for at least 900 feet, is now conscious but remains in intensive care at Harvard-affiliated MGH. "Kim is responding fairly well," said Somerville Police Captain Donald Caliguri.

Caliguri said the accident occurred as Daniels and her friend Tammy Vellaga, 16, were getting out of a car at 2:45 Sunday morning.

Daniels slipped and fell, and Vellaga was helping her up when the speeding car made contact with them. Vellaga was thrown into the air, but Daniels remained stuck to the car.

Three teenage girls, who were in the car Daniels and Vellaga were leaving, flagged down a passing motorist, who called the police. Daniels was found several blocks away, across a major intersection.

The alleged driver of the car that hit Daniels, Kevin Johnson, 19, of Medford, pleaded innocent at his arraignment Tuesday. He has been relased on $100 bail. His trial should take place within two months, Caliguri said.

Somerville police are conducting an investigation of the accident, Caliguri said.

"There are conflicting stories as to who was operating the car at the time of the accident," Caliguri said. Johnson was driving the identified car when he was pulled over shortly after the event.