A teenager who sparked a massive social media response after posting a hoax tweet and disappearing has been found alive and well.
New Jersey State Police say 16-year-old Kara Alongi called them from the John Fenwick service area on the New Jersey Turnpike in Penns Grove around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Police from Clark, N.J. say the girl was taken to a hospital for an evaluation and she was reunited with her family at the hospital yesterday evening.
Alongi was transferred to a hospital closer to her home overnight for additional evaluations and was released a short time later and returned home early Wednesday morning.
On Sunday Alongi tweeted: "There is someone in my hour ecall 911." Her twitter account had not had another message since that post at about 6:30 p.m.
Police say a cab driver told them he picked her up at her home and dropped her off at the Rahway NJ Transit train station at about the same time the tweet was posted.
Security camera video at the train station shows Alongi purchasing a train ticket to New York City, according to police.
Alongi gained thousands of followers on her Twitter account after her post went viral. People re-tweeted her message and the hashtag "helpfindkara" trended on the social network. Alongi had more than 100,000 followers by Tuesday.
An investigation by the Clark Police Department remains active and detectives will seek to determine the teen's whereabouts and methods of transportation while she was missing.
Friday, May 24 2013 10:44 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:44:03 GMT
The unofficial start of summer is being met with not-so-perfect beach weather. Many beach communities had been hoping for good weather this Memorial Day weekend following the destruction caused by Superstorm Sandy.
The unofficial start of summer is being met with not-so-perfect beach weather. Many beach communities had been hoping for good weather this Memorial Day weekend following the destruction caused by superstorm Sandy. The Fox 5 weather team is calling for sunny skies on Sunday and Monday.
Friday, May 24 2013 8:10 PM EDT2013-05-25 00:10:09 GMT
AP photo
Resorts held a grand opening Thursday for Margaritaville, the $35 million restaurant, bar, and gambling complex that's part of a $70 million expansion and renovation.
Resorts held a grand opening Thursday for Margaritaville, the $35 million restaurant, bar, and gambling complex that's part of a $70 million expansion and renovation.
Friday, May 24 2013 5:33 PM EDT2013-05-24 21:33:47 GMT
New Jersey Transit bus riders will soon have a new way to get across the Hudson River: by boat. The agency is partnering with New York Waterways, which will provide ferry service to customers. The
New Jersey Transit bus riders will soon have a new way to get across the Hudson River: by boat. The agency is partnering with New York Waterways, which will provide ferry service to customers. The
Friday, May 24 2013 11:12 AM EDT2013-05-24 15:12:21 GMT
AP photo
President Barack Obama plans to give the Jersey Shore a boost with a post-Memorial Day visit to showcase recovery efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
President Barack Obama plans to give the Jersey Shore a boost with a post-Memorial Day visit to showcase recovery efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
Friday, May 24 2013 9:23 AM EDT2013-05-24 13:23:33 GMT
New Jersey's education commissioner has overturned the firing of a high school athletic director who was caught on camera putting dog waste on his ex-wife's car.
New Jersey's education commissioner has overturned the firing of a high school athletic director who was caught on camera putting dog waste on his ex-wife's car.
Thursday, May 23 2013 10:17 PM EDT2013-05-24 02:17:32 GMT
New Jersey officials have seized inventory and demanded records from 29 bars and restaurants, nearly half of them TGI Fridays, that they say sold low-quality liquor to patrons who thought they were buying premium brands.
New Jersey officials have seized inventory and demanded records from 29 bars and restaurants, nearly half of them TGI Fridays, that they say sold low-quality liquor to patrons who thought they were buying premium brands.
