Linn County Sheriff Bruce Riley reports on September 14, 2017, at 6:30 p.m., the Linn County Sheriff’s Office 9-1-1 Dispatch Center received a call reporting a child had been struck by a vehicle on Broadway Street near 3rd Street in Mill City.
Deputies learned a 10-year-old female from Mill City was on her way to the School Book Fair, when struck in the crosswalk on Broadway Street, by a 2005 Dodge Caravan, driven by Natasha Marie Lynn Bodda, 20, of Mill City. Witnesses to the crash reported Bodda was traveling west on Broadway Street at approximately 30 to 35 MPH and after striking the child, slowed down, but then accelerated away from the scene.
A witness to the crash chased after Bodda and caught up with her several blocks west of the scene. Bodda agreed to return to the scene of the accident with the witness and waited for law enforcement to arrive.
The child was transported to Salem Hospital by ambulance and then to OHSU, to receive surgery for non-life threatening injuries.
Bodda was arrested and lodged at the Linn County Jail for charges of DUII Drugs-Marijuana, Failure to Perform Duties as a Driver in an Injury Motor Vehicle Crash, Assault II, Driving While Suspended-Violation, Driving Uninsured and Failure to Yield Right of Way to Pedestrian.
Linn County Deputies were assisted by members of the Mill City Fire Department, Lyons Fire Department and the Linn County Multi-Agency Investigation Team.
The investigation is continuing.