A Utah woman accused of hitting a motorcyclist while driving a Ford F-150 pickup, resulting in the motorcyclist losing the lower part of her leg, was formally charged Thursday in 6th Judicial District Court.
Brittany Dee, 24, was charged with careless driving, failure to yield the right of way and leaving the scene of a crash, according to court records.
Dee, who is free on $10,000 bail, made a brief court appearance Thursday. Her public defender waived formal reading of the charges.
The crash occurred about 12:35 p.m. July 23 on East Eighth Avenue near Third Street in Durango. Dee was traveling north when she attempted to turn left into the former Macho’s restaurant parking lot, according to court records and the Durango Police Department.
She allegedly failed to yield to an oncoming Harley-Davidson motorcycle, which was being driven by Jeanette Wages, 70, of Durango.
Immediately after the impact, a male passenger in the pickup exited the vehicle to check on the motorcyclist, but he then returned to the pickup and the driver departed the scene, according to police.
Police obtained photos from a witness at the scene, which helped them identify the owner of the pickup. Investigators contacted the owner of the pickup, who admitted to being the passenger in the vehicle, and later handed the phone to Dee, who admitted to being the driver, according to an arrest affidavit.
Dee told police she “freaked out” and left the scene. She drove nearly 100 miles to Aneth, Utah.
Dee agreed to return to Durango to surrender.
Wages was flown to St. Anthony’s Hospital in Lakewood where doctors removed the lower part of her left leg.
Wages also suffered a head injury, dislocated shoulder, and a broken hand and wrist, according to a family friend.
Efforts to reach Wages and the family friend were not immediately successful Thursday.
Wages is a real estate broker who has been with the Wells Group since 1997. She is also an avid motorcyclist, including being the first leader of the Ladies of Harley motorcycle group, which is an extension of the H.O.G. Chapter.
“She (Wages) will require extensive medical treatments, physical therapy, and specialized equipment to regain her independence and adapt to her new circumstances,” according to a GoFundMe page set up in her honor.
The page, which can be found by searching “Support for Jeanette's Road to Recovery,” had raised $71,725 of its $100,000 goal as of Thursday.
shane@durangoherald.com
