Mother of Oregon victim relieved by arrest
12/22/2006Julie Ledzianowski said she is just somewhat relieved that the Toledo woman who hit and critically injured her teenage daughter with a sport utility vehicle has finally been arrested.
"I just am in the mood right now where I just don't think whatever happens to whoever ran her over is going to be enough," she said. "They could put her in jail and throw away the key, and I don't think it would be enough. She just ruined her life."
Mrs. Ledzianowski was referring to Jessica Barnes, 28, of 1325 Idaho St., who was arrested on Wednesday. Ms. Barnes struck 14-year-old Lauren Ledzianowski with the black Ford Explorer she was driving on Sept. 16, Oregon police Lt. Hank Everitt said yesterday.
Ms. Barnes has been charged in Oregon Municipal Court with fleeing the scene of an accident, which is a felony because of the extent of young Ledzianowski's injuries.
She also was charged with falsification, a misdemeanor, because she lied to police during their investigation, Lieutenant Everitt said.
Ms. Barnes is being held in the Lucas County jail in lieu of bonds totalling $5,000.
Young Ledzianowski, of 1525 South Wynn Rd., Oregon, was hit about 1:25 a.m. while walking near her home in the 1400 block of Wynn.
After the accident, the freshman at Clay High School was taken to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center and was listed in critical condition. She was well enough to go home in mid-November, but is paralyzed from the waist down and has not yet returned to school, her mother said.
Mrs. Ledzianowski said her daughter has been working with a physical therapist to regain the use of her legs, and both are remaining hopeful it'll happen.
"The doctors seemed to think the prognosis is that she'll never walk again," Mrs. Ledzianowski said. "Lauren has different ideas, and so do I. We've gotta go back into the hospital for aggressive rehab so that someday she can walk again."