PHILLIP THOMSON August 19, 2012
Ashlee Bumpus. Photo: Supplied
Ashlee Bumpus, the young woman injured in an alleged hit-and-run that led to the death of her colleague Linda Cox earlier this year, is now able to get out of her wheelchair.
The 25-year-old was using crutches and last night the Bumpus family was scheduled to attend a fund-raiser for the Linda Cox Memorial Fund, a day after the man accused by police of causing the crash was committed to stand trial in the Supreme Court.
Justin Lee Monfries is accused of killing Ms Cox, a mother-of two and senior cardiac technician, and injuring Ms Bumpus in May. He faces eight charges including manslaughter, car theft and culpable driving.
Police allege Monfries ploughed into the women outside Canberra Hospital after running a red light while trying to evade police in a stolen car that had fled from the scene of an earlier crash in Hughes.
According to her mother, Carmel, Ms Bumpus spent 13 weeks in a wheelchair but was cheered up by community support.
''Ashlee made the comment that she didn't know that she knew so many people,'' said Carmel, also a nurse at the hospital.
''People have been amazing. She had so many flowers.''
Ms Bumpus, a netball coach and player, made it to her brother's wedding about a week after the incident.
The $50-a-head fund-raiser for the Cox family at the Hellenic Club was expecting more than 330 people.