Driver who injured pedestrian due in court

The driver of a vehicle that struck a student in front of Douglas High School a year ago is to appear today in East Fork Justice Court.

Jasna Slipcevic Richmond, 47, is to be brought to court from the Northern Nevada Correctional Center.

She is serving a 12-30-month sentence at the Florence McClure Women's Correctional Center in North Las Vegas for unlawfully filling a prescription.

Richmond has been charged with failing to maintain due care to avoid a collision with a pedestrian, a misdemeanor.

The accident occurred March 8, 2007.

Samantha Calvillo, 18, of Gardnerville, was in the crosswalk on Highway 88 in front of Douglas High School on her way to class when she was struck by Richmond's vehicle.

Richmond told the Nevada Highway Patrol she lit a cigarette and was reaching for coffee when she struck Calvillo. She estimated she was driving at 27 mph.

She told investigators she felt a hard hit, heard a loud noise and thought she hit a bird.

A blood-alcohol test revealed she had tranquilizers Nordiasepam and Oxazepam in her system at the time of the accident.

Calvillo's mother, Charlotte Tupas, said Thursday she was outraged that Richmond faces a misdemeanor.

"She almost killed my daughter, and that's all she gets?" Tupas said.

Calvillo suffered a broken leg, lacerated forehead, bruised elbow and bruised lung. She was taken by helicopter to Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno.

Tupas said her daughter had to undergo a second major surgery.

"She could have lost her leg completely. This put her back as far as rehabilitation and recovery are concerned. Although she was released from physical therapy, she walks with a limp. She was unable to return to her lifeguard job because she can't meet the requirements. This has shattered her life completely," Tupas said.

Despite missing school due to hospitalization and rehabilitation, Calvillo graduated from Douglas High School which her mother credits to her determination and the help from the school, friends and coworkers from Carson Valley Swim Center.

"The positive thing is she's alive," Tupas said of her daughter. "This could have been a lot worse. It's only through her personal miraculous strength. She'll never be 100 percent like she was."

Tupas said she and her daughter and family members and friends plan to be in court today.

"We're appalled that all she is getting is a freaking ticket. It's common knowledge she (Richmond) is a doctor chaser for prescription drugs," Tupas said.