A woman has been charged after an incident last November, in which an unhoused woman was struck by a vehicle while asleep in a tent in a Campbell River alley.
Amberlee Joan Herman, 38, faces two counts of impaired operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm, and one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, said Const. Maury Tyre with the Campbell River RCMP.
Herman has also been charged with one count of assault with a weapon, and one count of uttering threats.
Tyre did not provide any further details about the case.
READ MORE: Indigenous woman struck by car in Campbell River remains in hospital with serious injuries
During the early morning hours on Nov. 10, 2024, Darlene Christine Smith, 53, was transported to the Vancouver General Hospital with serious injuries.
The driver was apprehended at the scene and an investigation was carried out by Campbell River RCMP’s General Duty, Major Crime, and Forensics units, Tyre told the Mirror at the time. Intoxicants were not ruled out as a contributing factor in the incident, he said.
Smith spent several weeks recovering in the hospital due to fractures in her spine and several ribs. She also experienced head trauma.
Today, Smith has returned to the alley in Campbell River where the incident took place. She said she endures intense pain daily, making it hard to stand up with discomfort.
She can't talk about the experience last November without tears coming to her eyes.
"I have to lay down all the time," Smith told the Mirror on May 30. "When I'm walking, my spine cracks all the way up and down."
She was happy to learn that charges were laid. "I hope she gets some good time because she ran me over twice."
Right now, Smith said her concern is seeing a good doctor to help her manage the pain.
Herman is set to appear in court on June 16 at 9 a.m.
