Bend woman struck by SUV has warning for walkers

It’s been almost two months since a 49-year-old Bend woman was struck by an SUV while crossing a street at night. She was wearing dark clothing and was not in a cross walk.

Pamela James was walking with her son the night of Jan. 31 when they decided to cross the street at Northeast Division Street and Revere Avenue.

The driver just didn’t see them.

“My son and I were taking short cuts and darting across the street,” James told NewsChannel 21 Monday from her hospital bed at St. Charles Bend.

It started as a walk to the grocery store.

“We we’re walking to Safeway, and a truck came up and hit me,” James said.

She was hit by an SUV just before 6:30 p.m.

“They said they almost lost me twice at the scene, and here once,” James said.

For the last month and a half, James has been recovering at the Bend hospital

“I’ve been fighting for my life since I’ve been here,” James said.

The crash fractured both legs in multiple places, broke her hip, fractured her spine and neck, and broke both sides of her jaw.

But that’s not all.

She was in a coma for two weeks. Then she caught pneumonia twice, causing her lung to collapse and her heart to fail.

“They say that I’m actually a miracle, that I even made it the first 48 hours,” James said.

She begs you not to make the mistake she did.

Wear a light or reflective gear — and always use crosswalks, even if you’re in a hurry.

“Because if you don’t, you’re going to end up where I’m at,” James said. “Having a fractured neck and spine ain’t no fun. This collar I’m wearing ain’t no fun. Having a hole in my neck ain’t no fun.”

She is currently undergoing speech therapy and is hopeful she will be able to move to Pilot Butte Rehabilitation Center by next week.

The driver did stop after he struck James, police sand, and was cooperative with investigators.