Photos of injured athlete show progress

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Just-released photos of an injured University of Texas soccer athlete show there is progress.

Kylie Doniak has been recovering since early February, when she was hit by a suspected drunken driver in Downtown Austin as she crossed the street.

Photos from the CaringBridge website show her hugging her dad during physical therapy and another of her kicking a soccer ball as she's seated in a wheelchair. They are the first images of Doniak since the hit-and-run wreck.

Doniak moved back home to California late last month so she could continue her rehab.

A post Monday read:

"Kylie had another good weekend and day today. She said hello when the phone rang and she is starting to slowly string together some words and get some thoughts out to us. It does not happen every time we ask her a question but it is sooo great to hear her voice!!!"

In late February, Chili's locations throughout the Central Texas area hosted a fundraiser for Doniak and her family. One is happening Wednesday in Glendora, Calif. 

A man chased down the driver charged with running down Doniak, and crime victims' rights group and nonprofit organization Crime Victims First awarded 47-year-old Sisto Perez with a medal and a certificate of appreciation for his single-hand apprehension of the man.

Perez, who was riding his motorcycle downtown when a car ran over Doniak and others, said he was just helping police when he sprang into action.

Nicholas Colunga, 22, is charged with intoxication assault and failure to stop and render aid.