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Hit & Run Victim 'Trying To Forgive' Driver

DENVER (CBS4) - A woman left behind by a hit-and-run driver who struck her while she was driving her scooter is working to try to forgive the driver allegedly responsible for injuring her.

Amber Pennington had a broken pelvis, back and had cuts and abrasions across her face and body.

Amber Pennington
Amber Pennington (credit: CBS)

"I felt my body go forward, go backwards and then I blacked out," Pennington said of the July 1 crash.

Pennington has now learned the story of 27-year-old Spencer Rauch, who is accused of striking her while he was driving more than 50 mph.

Spencer Rauch
Spencer Rauch (credit: Adams County)

"At first I thought 'Well maybe he had an emergency of his own, there was some reason he left me there on the side of the road.' But once I found out that his family was lying I went from understanding to absolutely livid," said Pennington, who said she is now working on forgiveness.

Investigators found Rauch's license plate left behind at the scene. His family allegedly covered for him, even after paint chips on Rauch's car were found on Pennington's scooter.

Investigators returned to the Rauch home after neighbors saw he and his father trying to fix the damage left behind on the front of the car. He was arrested on Sunday night.

"I was just amazed at how much these people helped me and the officers to get these bad people off the streets," Pennington said.

Amber Pennington
Amber Pennington (credit: CBS)

Pennington is now recovering faster than expected and is walking with a cane. She hopes to run in the Tough Mudder next year.

Rauch and his 54-year-old father James are both accused of lying to investigators.

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