A request for KFC is a promising sign hit-and-run victim Jesse Minnell is making progress, but he still has a long way to go, a friend says.
The friend, Shayla Johnson, has set up a Givealittle page to help fund Minnell's recovery and support his dedicated family.
While visiting his home town of Whanganui on Saturday, the Palmerston North student, was walking home around 2am after spending the night catching up with friends, when he was struck by 61-year-old Michael Robert Pollard, who fled the scene.
Minnell was critically hurt and rushed to Whanganui Hospital and then airlifted to Wellington Hospital for specialist treatment.
He was admitted to the intensive care unit, but had since been transferred to the neurology ward.