Petaluma Resident Raising Money for Elderly Woman Struck by Car

A Petaluma resident is seeking the community’s help in raising money for a homeless woman critically injured in a hit and run accident last Friday.

Tracy Moss, 74 and traveling from Texas, was hit by a car while walking with her husband in the 1200 block of North McDowell Boulevard.

It was raining that evening and was already dark, when a car sideswiped Moss, then continued driving. Cricket Smith Wade, who works at nearby Lagunitas, was one of the first people on the scene.

“I held her hand as she was laying on the ground waiting for the ambulance to arrive,” Smith Wade said, adding that it took first responders about 20 minutes to get there.

Moss suffered six broken ribs, a broken shoulder and needed to have a pacemaker put in. She is currently at Santa Rosa’s Memorial Hospital, but scheduled to be released soon.

Meanwhile, Smith Wade, has been scraping together funds to put up Moss’s husband, Ray, who was walking with her, at a Santa Rosa motel.

“It’s just a heartbreaking, horrible story. They’ve been together for 30 years and never have they been apart…They fell on hard times and came to California looking for work. They have nothing.”

Together with several friends, Smith Wade has already paid for three nights at a motel for Moss. And she has just launched an online campaign where people can donate to help pay for Moss's medical expenses and housing for the pair.

Meanwhile, Petaluma police have charged 34-year-old Santa Rosa resident Raymond Washington with a hit and run. Washington left the scene of Friday's accident, but was tracked down at home after someone reported his license plate.

He told officers he remembered hitting something but did not realize that he hit a pedestrian. He discovered his mirror was missing when he arrived home. Alcohol and drugs do not appear to be a factor in the collision. 

Moss is still at the hospital being treated for her injuries. Police are continuing to investigate this collision. Anyone with information is asked to contact Traffic Officer Matt Capitelli at 707.776.3721 and reference report number 12-5336.  

But a bureaucratic twist, the police have also cited Tracy and Ray Moss will illegally walking in a bicycle lane, a charge Smith Wade says is absurd.

“There is no sidewalk from north of Corona Road and they just added a small portion of sidewalk before you get to Lagunitas driveway, it’s literally 37 steps of sidewalk. And it was raining and dark, so it’s unlikely that they would have even seen it and switched to it.” 

Since the accident, Smith Wade has visited Moss in the hospital almost daily, sitting with her, much like she did when the woman was hit by a car on Friday. Moss is slowly recooperating and has taken to calling Smith Wade her sister. 

But as she gets ready to be discharged, it's still not clear where she and her husband will find shelter.

Can you chip in to help Tracy and Ray Moss pay their medical expenses and get temporary housing? Click this link to donate.