COLORADO SPRINGS — An arrest warrant is out for a Colorado Springs woman after she failed to appear in court on Tuesday.
Tara Studer is facing DUI and Vehicular Assault charges following her involvement in a crash last July that caused a local man to lose his leg. Those aren't the only charges she's facing. In late December she was arrested on charges involving Motor Vehicle Theft, Criminal Impersonation, Attempted Escape and several other things.
As far as that incident from last summer - it's something that's changed the life of the victim, Michael Elmore, forever.
Elmore said, "Reality's different now. Things are a little more difficult than they used to be."
It's been almost six months since Elmore was seriously injured after being hit by a suspected drunk driver.
He said, "Obviously lost the right leg, multiple fractures in the left, multiple broken ribs on the left and right, broken arm, broken back, laceration in the head."
He spent several weeks in the hospital and in rehab, and is now home trying to get back to some sense of normalcy.
"I'm working on learning how to walk with a prosthetic and it's not easy...in the process of getting a vehicle so I'll be out mobile again here pretty soon...things could be way worse and really...it kind of gets back to that point of it's not what happens to you but how you react to it."
When it comes to Studer he says he has sympathy for her.
"I can't hold any anger towards her, any hate in my heart. I've said that before and I'll say it again."
He's kept tabs on her following the crash.
"Got an email this morning informing me that she failed to appear in court...I thought she's scared and she's probably trying to run from this."
In learning about her list of other charges he said "I think she's involved in some pretty destructive behavior not only for herself, but she's endangering other people."
His message to her now is that "she needs to know that she's made yet another mistake. She didn't do herself any favors today by not showing up in court."
His hope for her - that she's able to somehow turn her life around.
Besides becoming more mobile Elmore shared that he's also looking forward to playing music again with his band and taking on a more supervisory role with his business, Axxis Audio.
As far as Studer - if you have information on her or where she might be please call Colorado Springs Police.
