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Drunken driver to face charges soon
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by Courtney Johnson
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
A University of Wisconsin student is recovering at a local hospital after being struck by a car last night on the 800 block of Langdon Street.
Patrica Wagner, 18, was hit on the crosswalk in front of Memorial Union shortly after 7 p.m. by 31-year-old Bradley Zika, who is expected to be charged with drunken driving.
According to the Madison Police Department, Wagner sustained "non-life threatening injuries," including a fractured skull, broken nose and orbital and abrasions.
But UW student Dani Sylvan, a friend of the victim's, said the injuries are more serious than these accounts lead people to believe. Sylvan said Wagner fractured her spine and will have to wear a neck brace for up to two months.
Contrary to eyewitness reports printed yesterday in The Badger Herald, Sylvan said Wagner's external injuries were extensive.
"There was blood everywhere," Sylvan said. "She has two huge lacerations on her forehead, and cuts and bruises all over her body."
MPD Lt. Wayne Strong said Zika had to be taken to detox before he could be arrested. Zika will face many charges, Strong said, but the main charge will be causing injury with a prohibited alcohol concentration.
Eyewitnesses, including UW student Anna Zinger, said Zika openly admitted at the scene to being drunk.
In contrast to previous eyewitness reports, Zinger also said Wagner was "scared and upset" immediately after being hit by the car.
"At first she was screaming, and then we calmed her down, and then she asked me to call her mom," Zinger said. "By the time the ambulance got there, she was calm."
Reports have attributed part of the accident to the dark clothing Wagner was reportedly wearing at the time, including a black winter coat.
But Sylvan said she and Wagner's parents do not believe Wagner's clothing was the real issue.
"This is being played off as someone wearing dark clothing, when people have to be more careful to watch for drunk drivers," Sylvan said. "There were plenty of witnesses in the crosswalk; … she was visible."
Zinger also said Wagner's dark clothing was not a major contributing factor to the accident.
"She was wearing black pants, and I think it was like a black jacket, but I don't think that's really relevant," Zinger said. "It was a crosswalk, and he had his headlights on, and you are supposed to yield."
Former eyewitness accounts reported by The Badger Herald said Wagner did not get underneath the car, but Sylvan said this is not the case.
"[Zika] did not slow down," Sylvan said. "[Wagner] hit the windshield and [Zika] only stopped because she was under the wheel of his car."
Sylvan said she visited Wagner at the hospital today, and Wagner is starting to recover.
"Today, she is in high spirits, but there's a lot to be done," Sylvan said. "There's a long road ahead of her."
Anonymous (February 14, 2007 @ 11:02am):
Dont blame the victim as they say but seriously. Everyone knows that crosswalk is dangerous. I dont trust any car that i dont know for a fact is slowing down for me on that crosswalk. People have this attitude that im walking no matter, they will slow down for me. Well look what happened. You were wearing an all black ninja like outfit at night. Granted he was drunk and it wasnt her fault but ever heard of look both ways?
Anonymous (February 14, 2007 @ 11:59am):
Other reports say that Wagner was on a cell phone. Drivers, even sober ones, need to be especially attentive at that crosswalk. But pedestrians, too, need to make sure they are looking out for their own safety. Unless the city closes Langdon to vehicles, pedestrians need to remember that, while they have the right of way in a crosswalk, cars, bikes, and buses don't always yield.
Anonymous (February 14, 2007 @ 12:14pm):
those comments are absolutely absurd. do you not understand the man had to be taken to DETOX before he could even get arrested? we aren't talking a few beers here, he was wasted. as a friend of patsy's i would strongly encourage you to shift the blame far, far away from her. go visit her in the hospital, look at the damage, and then talk about blame.
Anonymous (February 14, 2007 @ 12:55pm):
No one's saying that the accident was her fault - obviously the guy shouldn't have been driving drunk. But geez - people walk around on campus like they own the place, and you can't always assume cars are going to stop.
Anonymous (February 14, 2007 @ 2:16pm):
Yeah i dont think people are blaming her, she had the right of way and the guy was drunk. But usually when you cross the street you judge how fast the oncoming car is going and you decide wheather you would make it across in time or not. clearly she walked in front of the car thinking it would stop vs. waiting for a second to make sure it was slowing down. she never did the "make sure they saw you and is slowing down check." drunk driver, blind driver, sober driver, if i see a car, im always assuming its not going to stop unless i have confirmation, i think we learned this in 1st grade. and its not like he just turned the corner and she just didnt have time to see him. That crosswalk is in the middle of the street, she saw that there was a car. she clearly just said im walking, he better stop. this time the guy was drunk. either way its a sad situation.
Anonymous (February 14, 2007 @ 10:51pm):
Can we maybe get a stop sign there? ASM? Campus safety? Anyone?
Anonymous (February 15, 2007 @ 1:10am):
Was Sylvan there when the accident took place?
Anonymous (February 16, 2007 @ 7:33pm):
STOP SIGN FOR THE WIN, 1000%.
needs to be done, no question. this is the most dangerous crosswalk in the campus area by far.
Anonymous (February 17, 2007 @ 3:00pm):
I can't believe that people are saying Patsy should have looked both ways and should watch to make sure the car stopped. Not only was I an eye witness to the accident, but I was walking in frong of her, and had I crossed 2 seconds later that would have been me getting hit by the car. I looked both ways and didn't see the car coming! I don't even know if he was coming from Langdon or if he had just turned from lake street. Therefore not only was he driving increadibly fast, he had no intension of slowing down or even yielding like the law states you do at pedestrian crosswalks. He was increadibly intoxicated and even after the crash while Patsy was still under the car he was sitting in his car drinking. Next time before you guys decide to put in your input I suggest you check out the facts of the situation!
Anonymous (March 7, 2007 @ 11:20am):
Alcoholism is a disease and I have it. I was doing very well before this tradgedy. Three weeks sober and then had a relapse. I accept full responsiblity for what happend. The law does state the pedestrians have the right away. Even though I was drunk I am very familiar with the crosswalk at Langdon. Many times SOBER I have approached that croswalk and had to slam on the brakes because people just step out and walk without looking. That's why i had new brakes put on my car breifly before hand. I always ment to state something about this fact because it doesn't just happen at Langdon but everywhere downtown. I've been driving down ther for years and am very familiar with every street. Drivers need to watch out for everyone else and that is my golden rule. I always thought there should be a STOPLIGHT at the crosswalk where a pedestrian pushes the button it turns red and then crosses. I turned around the corner from Lake st. I am fully aware of the YELLOW FLASHING LIGHT and the percausions needed to be taken at that intersection. I did yield and saw the other pedestrian and then started going I did not see Miss Wagner until she was on my hood and I stopped as fast as I could. I was horrified and in shock. I knew i hit someone and I put my car in park and carefully got out because I didn't want it to move to cause anymore injuries. I am certian I yelled for help because I was drunk and incapable of helping. Thats why I walked to the side and sat down. I admit to being drunk. THIS IS NOT AN ADMISSION OF GUILT. My heart is broken and my family is torn apart. I pray to God every day for Miss Wagners health and peace to her family. My friends are praying for her and my church also. I am so sorry for what happened to you Miss Wagner. I am sorry you became a victim of Alcoholism. I hope this provides a serious example to all who think they can drink and drive. Nobody wins here, because of all this The Wagners suffer, My Wife and children suffer and my family also. I am not drinking EVER again I just wish I could change what happened. I don't know how to express how terrible I feel. Please whatch out for other cars. You need to always look both ways. I was only going 20 M.P.H. The speed limit was 25 ther, c'mon like I'm gonna speed in an area with pedestrians around. Again, I wish the Wagners the best I am so sorry, I will be sorry, and this will never leave me for the rest of my life. I am so glad to hear Miss Wagner is in high spirits. I can only hope for forgiveness. I want to do something so badly, not drinking, and not driving, isn't enough, I send my highest regards. I hope we can have some form of forgiveness as God teaches us for this tradgedy. I am so remorsefull and i cry every day.
You know who this is,
Z
Anonymous (March 31, 2008 @ 7:54pm):
Once a wise man once told me only the weak believe in gods, it's better to believe in yourself, & never to run over people in crosswalks, also to never drink & drive. As I got older my lack of belief in religion fills me w/strength for man wrote the bible, the most god awful read then created a cult in which people don't claim responsibility for their actions. Just ask for forgiveness & all is forgiven. Hog wash! Those who believe in themselves don't need to drink, if you ask me if we raised our kids right in the first place accidents would never happen like this in the first place. Especially 4 times being busted for drinking & driving, but I will state this I've ridden w/Zeke while he drinks & drives & He taught me that no one should ever attempt it tho I don't think he ever knew he wasn't that good. Man we used to hit curbs & puke out our windows. Sometimes going the wrong way down a one way street, at least he's not a child molestor. People make mistakes, sometimes repeatedly & should be shot.
Anonymous (April 20, 2008 @ 10:52am):
I used to know the idiot that hit this girl..unfortunately she is a victim of society letting pure idiots run free.
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