Accident victim identified

From: Rapid City Journal, SD - Dec 13, 2004

RAPID CITY - A woman injured Saturday night when she was hit by a car has been identified, and the driver of the car that struck her was arrested for a fourth DUI and vehicular battery, according to a statement released Monday by the Rapid City Police Department.

Grace Phipps, 60, Rapid City, was crossing Fifth Street on the railroad tracks between Omaha and Main streets when she was struck by a 1995 Honda Accord driven by Gerry Janis, 26, also of Rapid City, police said.

Sgt. Brad Booth of the Rapid City Police Department said Saturday that the woman was walking west to east across Fifth Street when she was struck by the northbound car. Phipps was tossed into the windshield of the car and smashed it, and then was carried about 10 feet before falling into the street in front of the vehicle, Booth said.

Phipps was transported to Rapid City Regional Hospital and admitted for treatment of injuries.

She was listed in satisfactory condition late Monday.

Police said both Phipps and Janis had been drinking prior to the accident.

Booth said the woman was deaf, which gave officers additional difficulty getting information from her before she was taken to the hospital.

The accident remains under investigation by the police department's critical accident reconstruction team.

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