As 17-year-old Kyle Pszenny remains in the hospital struggling to recover from injuries he suffered in a hit-and-run accident Sunday, hundreds of Pennsville residents gathered at the high school football field to show their support for the local athlete and his family.

Hundreds gathered Tuesday at a vigil for Kyle Pszenny, the local high school football player who was injured during a hit-and-run Sunday. (David Matthau, NJ 101.5)
Hundreds gathered Tuesday at a vigil for Kyle Pszenny, the local high school football player who was injured during a hit-and-run Sunday. (David Matthau, NJ 101.5)
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Members of the community congregated on the field to light candles and pray for the teen.

“We’re here to support the family of the boy who was hit. We’re praying for him, and it was important to bring my girls. We’re all together in this town,” said John, a Pennsville resident who attended Tuesday night's vigil with his daughters.

Many others shared similar sentiments, saying that even if they didn't know the family personally, it was important for them to be there as a show of support.

“I’m here, he’s part of my community and I’m here to support the parents because my son was in a coma for five months, so I know what it feels like," said Katie, another Pennsville resident. "There’s no words, all we can do is support him.”

Hundreds form a circle holding candles during a vigil for Kyle Pszenny, the local high school football player who was injured during a hit-and-run Sunday. (David Matthau, NJ 101.5)
Hundreds form a circle holding candles during a vigil for Kyle Pszenny, the local high school football player who was injured during a hit-and-run Sunday. (David Matthau, NJ 101.5)
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More than anything, however, community members, forming a giant circle around the field, urged the local football player to "keep fighting."

“It’s just the whole sense of community. Our message to Kyle is just keep fighting and do what God had planned for you, which is to get well," one resident said. "We’ll take care of the rest."

Pszenny sustained critical injuries Sunday as he was headed home from his girlfriend's house. The teen was on his skateboard when he was struck by a car around 2 a.m. Sunday. Police say he suffered “serious” injuries to his head, neck, leg and ear and had undergone surgery at a hospital in Delaware.

Pennsville Police say the driver of the vehicle that allegedly hit Pszenny turned himself in.

Police Chief Allan J. Cummings identified the suspect as Zachary D. McDonough, 23, of Pennsville. He has been charged with with assault by auto, knowingly leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury, hindering apprehension, failure to report an accident and tampering with evidence. He is being held at the Salem County Correctional Facility on $50,000 bail.
According to authorities, McDonough turned himself in after his silver Hyundai Accent was found covered in the backyard of an apartment building on North Hook Road, not far from the accident scene. Cummings said the car belongs to McDonough’s father.
According to a CaringBridge website created by Kyle’s mother, Crystal Parks, the teen  remains in critical condition and is starting to breath on his own although he is still using a breathing tube to help heal a bruised lung and to prevent pneumonia from developing. Parks says many of the multiple scrapes and bruises have started to heal and jokes that his daily protein drinks are helping the process.
David Matthau and Dan Alexander contributed to this report.

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