Witnesses Describe Pedestrian Crash

Mariam Hedayati, 43, of Laguna Niguel remained in critical condition at Mission Hospital after being struck by a car Monday as she used a crosswalk on Moulton Parkway.

Hedayati suffered head trauma and a severed left leg, authorities said. The driver was released pending an investigation.

Two people who said they were at the scene wrote to Patch about what they saw:

Lisa Pawlik:

"I stopped to see if there was anything I could do. ... She landed at least 200-300 feet away from where she was hit. Part of her leg was laying further down the street. At first I didn't think she was alive, but then saw she was breathing. The paramedics then arrived and took the lady and the leg. ... It was very horrific and I will not forget what I saw. I just hope she will be OK. ... My prayers are with her and her family."

Tom Clarke:

"I was ... waiting at the red light in the No. 2 southbound lane on Moulton. Seemed like the guy [who] hit the lady made a left-hand turn from Aliso Niguel and was accelerating rapidly. Then all I could see was what I thought was smoke, probably from his brakes locking up, and a lot of papers flying. Then I saw the guy jump out of his car and kind of run/hop across Moulton. It wasn't until I drove slowly past his disabled car that I saw the woman lying on the other side of the median on Moulton and realized he had hit her. His car was really messed up, so I assume she was hurt very badly. Was going to stop to help but there were many others that had done so. The image has been bothering me ever since. Hope she makes it."

Tell us in comments if you were at the scene.