Woman hospitalized, driver charged in wreck that killed dog

Shantay McNeese-Wiggins, 42, was walking her dog on the sidewalk when Richard Kocher's vehicle jumped the curb and hit her near 5150 Fort Sumter Road, according to police.

"Right this very minute, I am in a lot of pain," McNeese-Wiggins said.

McNeese-Wiggins suffered broken bones and was in serious condition at WakeMed Friday evening.

"As I turned around to see what was all the ruckus, that must be when the car hit me because I don't remember anything after that until I was in the EMS," she said.

Her 10-year-old dog, Bruno, was killed in the crash.

McNeese-Wiggins said she is not angry with Kocher.

"I just hope he takes away a lesson with it and something like this never happens again," she said.

Kocher was charged with driving left of center, and careless and reckless driving in the accident.

McNeese-Wiggins will have to stay at WakeMed for about a week. Doctors said she'll likely be out of work and in rehab for several months.

She told WRAL News that her daughter has cerebral palsy and needs her mother as a caretaker.

"I am thinking, 'how am I going to take care of my daughter now?'" she said.

Still, McNeese-Wiggins is grateful to be alive.

"I am grateful to God that I didn't lose my life. I still have that," she said.