Veronika Badurova Killed By A Hit and Run Driver

Veronika Badurova, 21, a student from Slovakia has died of injuries she suffered in a hit-and-run crash in Ocean City on 30 August 2017.  She died Sept. 1, two days after the crash, Ocean City said.

Around 3 a.m. on Aug. 30, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers responded to a reported hit-and-run collision involving a bicycle in the area of 2nd Street and Philadelphia Avenue.

Veronika had been hit from behind by a hit and run driver - a person that chose to leave her injured and dying in the roadway.

Veronika worked as a lifeguard at the pool in the Mystic Harbor community in West Ocean City during the summer. The popular lifeguard was described in social media posts as incredibly sweet and a hard worker who always had a smile. Residents in the community where she worked held a brief memorial service last weekend and her lifeguard chair was adorned with flowers and a candle and notes.

The person driving the SUV was subsequently identified as Brooks T. Bratten, 38, of Snow Hill. Maryland court records indicate a number of previous incidents involving police and the court system. In January, he was cited in Ocean City for driving a motor vehicle while his license was suspended. In March, he was charged by Maryland State Police with malicious destruction of property over $1,000. He was expected to stand trial for that misdemeanor charge on Sept. 19. Court records also indicate several marijuana possession arrests and convictions in the past.

The death of Veronika Badurova brings us to ten (10) people on bikes killed this year on Maryland Roadways.
(Read: Year / # Deaths)
2010 8
2011 5
2012 5
2013 7
2014 6
2015 10
2016 16
2017 10

2017 Fatalities (Read: Date / Name / Age / Area)
13-Jan-17 / William C. Bosley / 70 / Hagerstown
24-Jan-17 / Brian E. Argy / 58 / Frederick
27-Jan-17 / Jamal Quentin Anderson / 14 / Randallstown
17-Feb-17 / George Ernest McNab / 59 / Waldorf
26-Apr-17 / Mariah Johnson / 17 / Hagerstown
17-May-17 / Thomas Randolph / 26 / Rockville
19-Jun-17 / Aaron Michael Laciny / 20 / Towson
04-Jul-17 / Jeremy Pope / 25 / Linthicum
21-Jul-17 / Harrison Thomas Earls / 20 / Taneytown
1-Sep-17 / Veronika Badurova / 21 / Ocean City

Source: https://mdcoastdispatch.com/2017/09/07/driver-charged-in-fatal-hit-and-run-warrant-issued-for-suspect/