By: Chris Conte
NASHVILLE, Tenn.- The woman hit by a car Friday night while walking home from the Dollar General with her 4-year-old great niece has been identified as 52-year-old Joanne Stauffer. It happened near the intersection of Old Hickory Boulevard and Delaware Avenue just after 9 p.m.
Saturday night, she remained in critical, but stable condition. Police said the driver of a car was driving down East Old Hickory Boulevard in Madison Friday night. Police say Mark Hunt told them Stauffer suddenly appeared in front of him, and he couldn't avoid hitting her.
"We don't know if she's gonna make it," Samantha Young said about her friend Joanne Stauffer, the victim of the crash.
Stauffer was crossing East Old Hickory Boulevard around 8:30p.m. on Friday, when officials say she was hit by a car being driven by Mark Hunt. The impact sent Stauffer flying nearly 100 yards in the air.
"Her shoes were lying there...she's got a fractured skull, bleeding in the brain, both of her knees are fractured," Young explained about the accident.
Metro Police believe Stauffer was wearing dark clothing, making it difficult for anyone to see her crossing the road. When emergency responders arrived on scene they found Stauffer's great niece being kept safe by Mark Hunt on the side of the road.
"She's been raising her since she (the little girl) was an infant," Young added.
No charges have been filed against the driver. Officials say speed and alcohol were not involved in the crash, and so far they believe it was nothing more than an accident.
