SPRINGVILLE, Utah — Jeremy Warner is hoping that his wife will be able to dance again, but more than that, he's happy she is alive.
Catherine Joy Smith-Warner, a 22-year-old dance mayor at Utah Valley University, underwent surgery Wednesday to repair a fractured tibia and shattered knee — injuries sustained that morning when she was struck by a man who police said was driving under the influence of drugs.
"She's going to live. She'll be able to walk again. Considering the fact that she was hit by a car, this is pretty good," Warner said at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, where his wife was being prepped for surgery.
"The question is, will she be able to dance again?"
She also suffered a broken nose and some facial fractures.
The accident comes just a month after Justin Thomas Hicken, 22, of Spanish Fork, was last arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of drugs, and just one day after he made an appearance in court on that charge.
About 7:15 a.m. Wednesday, Hicken crossed all lanes of traffic near the busy intersection of 400 South and Main, said Springville Police Lt. Dave Caron. He barely missed hitting at least one vehicle head-on.
"He hit the curb, went through the grass planter strip, drove on the sidewalk, hit her and launched her underneath a car waiting to turn right. Fortunately that car was stopped," he said. "It's absolutely tragic."
The driver continued after hitting the woman, driving back across all lanes of traffic, leaving skid marks the entire way, to the opposite sidewalk, where his vehicle finally stopped.
The first arriving officers thought both of Smith-Warner's legs were broken.
Warner said his wife was waiting to cross the street to the bus stop. He said she only has vague memories of the accident.
"She said she didn't know what happened, but she kind of saw a maroon car," Warner said. "Mainly she told me she was sad she couldn't be in school. When she first got here she was in a lot of pain. She said that was good because it meant she wasn't paralyzed."
Smith-Warner was on her way to her first day of classes for her final semester at UVU. Wednesday also marked Smith-Warner's first day teaching ballet at a Springville dance studio. She also teaches at a Lehi preschool.
"She has been really excited about teaching," Warner said. "She loves dancing and she loves teaching dance."
Warner said he graduated from BYU last month and is looking for work. The couple was recently married and has no insurance.
"I don't know what we are going to do," he said.
Warner said when he first learned the driver was accused of driving while under the influence he was angry.
"I was really upset with him," he said. "But now it's sad to me that he made these decisions with his life. When you do drugs you don't just hurt yourself, you hurt other people."
Caron agreed.
"I've been a cop for 37 years, and you just never get used to the fact people will be under the influence of alcohol and drugs and go out and cause mayhem. They kill people, they maim people. … In 37 years, it doesn't seem to stop. And then you see something like this. … Her whole life could change. It's going to be really painful for her for a long, long time," Caron said.
Hicken was arrested and booked into the Utah County Jail for investigation of driving under the influence with serious injury, possession of drug paraphernalia and reckless driving.
On July 20, he was arrested by Springville police on a similar charge. In that incident, police say Hicken also drove off the road but did not hit anyone.
Family members say donations for Smith-Warner can be made to the "Catey Smith-Warner Fund" at any Zions Bank branch.
e-mail: preavy@desnews.com; mhaddock@desnews.com