Woman Hit, Dragged by Dump Truck: ‘Screaming for My Life'

A woman who was struck by a dump truck in northeast Washington, D.C., in July will be released from the hospital on Tuesday, but she still has a long recovery process.

Bianca Butler was run over and dragged by the dump truck near 33rd Street, Northeast, and South Dakota Avenue. She is expected to leave the hospital on Tuesday, Sept. 20, but she reflected on the day that changed her life.

“I was screaming for my life,” Butler said while sitting in a wheelchair at the hospital. “I thought I was going to die that day, but I didn’t. I thank God for letting me see another day.”

Butler experienced massive injuries from the crash. Dr. Robert Bunning, at Medstar Rehabilitation Hospital, said if she had not made it to the hospital as quickly as she did, she may have died.

“She had massive soft tissue injuries, and if she had not gotten to a health care facility quickly, it could have been a different outcome,” Bunning said.

Butler was crossing the street when she was struck. Police said she was dragged nearly 60 feet before the driver heard her screams and brought his vehicle to a stop.

“Stuff was coming out of my leg. I lost half of my knee, because of him, on this right leg,” Butler said. “On my left leg, my foot was dangling apart, coming apart from my leg.”

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She said the driver told her he was sorry while she was still at the scene. He’s been charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian, but the charge is under review by the attorney general’s office.

Butler has undergone eight surgeries, and more are planned. She said she is determine to get back on her feet and walking again.

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