[media-credit name=’SUNDEEP MALLADI/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]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."