Burley woman still critical after being hit by SUV

Oct. 27--BURLEY -- A Burley woman remained in critical condition Wednesday at a Utah hospital after she was hit by a car while she walked on Parke Avenue in a downpour of rain Monday.

The Heyburn woman driving the SUV that struck her was arrested.

Melissa Rae Wodskow, 34, was charged with misdemeanor driving without privileges after a records check indicated that her driver's license had been suspended because of failure to carry insurance.

University of Utah staff in Salt Lake City said Altera Starr Moore, 40, was in critical condition on Wednesday.

"She was hit so hard," Debbie Moeller, Moore's mother said.

Moore had a tear in an artery, which almost caused her to bleed to death before she was taken into the first surgery, which restored the blood flow to her leg. Both sides of her pelvis is severely fractured, she has a fractured back, neck, arm and wrist along with a head injury, some internal injuries and her face was cut up.

Moeller said Moore was conscious up until the first surgery, but she has been in a medically-induced coma since.

"She knew I was there and she knew her name and where she was born," Moeller said. "She apologized to me and asked if she was going to die. I told her no."

Doctors plan several surgeries to repair her injuries.

A Gofundme account has been set up to help the family with medical expenses at http://bit.ly/2eHHqJJ.

Moore was taken to Cassia Regional Medical Center where she was flown to the Utah hospital.

Moeller said Moore has some mental challenges and doesn't drive, but she is able to live independently.

She was hit at around 9 p.m. as she walked northbound in a rainstorm near the intersection of 16th Street and Parke Avenue.

A Cassia County sheriff's deputy said Wodskow was driving a red 1998 Dodge Durango that was parked in the lane of travel in the 1500 block when he arrived. Moore was lying on the ground.

Witnesses said Moore was walking in the road against traffic and she was wearing dark clothing with a black baseball hat.

Wodskow told the deputy that she was traveling south when she realized she had struck something.

She said she hit something that she passed and heard "...a bump."

Wodskow told the deputy she was going the speed limit.

The posted speed in the area is 25 mph.

The deputy said there were no skid marks in the southbound lane of travel.

Wodskow is set to be arraigned Nov. 14 in Cassia County Magistrate Court.

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