STURGIS, S.D. — A woman from Lakewood is fighting for her life after a suspected drunk driver hit her at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally earlier this month.
Family members said the victim, Aaften Wesbrock, traveled to South Dakota to work at the rally. She was leaving a concert when she was hit.
"The doctor estimates Aaften was hit by the motorcycle going 60 to 65 miles per hour. He hit her from behind. She never even saw it coming," her mother, Vanessa Handy, said. "The nurse tried to prepare us, but there's nothing to prepare you for seeing your child that way."
Handy said Wesbrock suffered a major brain injury. She's currently in South Dakota, where she's been on life support for more than two weeks.
"Half her skull is gone," Handy said. "They don’t know if she’ll ever walk again, talk again. They don’t know anything."
Court documents show the suspect, 36-year-old Robert Shipp, was arrested for vehicular battery and driving under the influence. He's already bonded out of jail.
9NEWS reached out to the sheriff's office in Sturgis to get more information on the case, but did not hear back.
"I have a really hard time knowing that she's fighting for her life and the person that did this is out walking around free," Handy said. "No, I definitely don't think the charges were fitting for the crime at all."
9NEWS found the suspect is a former patrol sergeant for a sheriff's office in North Dakota. He left the office about two years ago. It's unclear why, but the county's human resources department said he "resigned his position voluntarily."
"He once swore to serve and protect the community, and look what he's done to my daughter," Handy said. "He knew better and he did it anyway."
Handy said she is moving to South Dakota indefinitely, to hold on to what means most.
"I'm going wherever she goes" she said. "You know, I have to. That's my girl."
Handy said she was notified on Tuesday that her daughter may be moved to a long-term care facility in Illinois. She said if that happens, she will be going with her. Friends have created two GoFundMe pages: one for Wesbrock's medical bills and one for Handy's relocation expenses.