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Mpls. Doctors Save Woman's Leg After Hit-And-Run

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minneapolis doctors managed to save the leg of a 76-year-old woman after she was struck in her electric motorized wheelchair by a hit and run driver, according to family.

It happened at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 14. Police say Mary Lou Dixon was crossing Lyndale Avenue at 18th Avenue North on her way to Cub Foods. She was halfway through the crosswalk when a car hit her and fled the scene.

Dixon was taken by EMS to Hennepin County Medical Center where doctors worked quickly to save her badly injured leg. She also suffered three cracked ribs.

"Right now amputation is out, as far as we know," said Andre Thomas, Dixon's son. "The doctor that did the surgery did an excellent job. He shortened her leg and infused her bones back together."

Thomas says when he got the news he had mixed emotions, but he was mostly scared that his mother was going to lose her life. Now he's upset, but not angered with the driver.

"If somebody hit your mother…you would've been 'well you could've at least stopped'," said Thomas. "I can forgive you for that. I can still forgive you. If you turn yourself in."

Gail Vernado is a close friend of Dixon's. She said the intersection where Dixon was struck is always a problem.

On Monday, she and half a dozen others rallied for Dixon on the corner of 18th and Lyndale. They hope the driver of the car who hit Dixon caught a glimpse.

"The traffic is real bad here," said Vernado. "[Drivers] ignore the red lights, they ignore the walk signs for the elderly to cross."

Vernado is happy to hear her friend is recovering, but wants justice. She hopes the driver will hear their message and turn themselves in to police.

"How can you sleep at night knowing this happened?" asked Vernado.

Minneapolis Police say the car that struck Dixon was a light colored four door sedan, possibly a Buick LaSabre. Anyone with information is asked to call Minneapolis Police.

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