Marta Ociepa, 36, speaks out from Tweed Hospital after being hit by Toyota on Bayshore Dr, Byron Bay in northern NSW

A pedestrian left in intensive care after she was hit by a car at Byron Bay says her arm was essentially “snapped in half” by the impact. it comes as the council has been investigating road lighting upgrades.

Marta Ociepa, 36, faces a long road to recovery after she was hit by a car at Byron Bay. Picture: Supplied

A pedestrian left in intensive care after she was hit by a car at Byron Bay says her arm was essentially “snapped in half” by the impact.

Marta Ociepa, 36, is grateful for her friends who have helped after the incident – and those who rushed to help on the day.

She was hit on Bayshore Drive, Byron Bay about 8pm on May 4, 2024. Picture: Google Maps.

Ms Ociepa has spoken out from her bed at Tweed Hospital after she was struck by the Toyota while walking along Bayshore Dr.

She previously took to social media to praise those who rushed to her aid on Saturday, May 4.

Her heartfelt post prompted Byron Shire Council Mayor Michael Lyon to pledge the council would “look into the lighting situation immediately”.

Meanwhile, the driver of the Toyota, a 37-year-old man, returned a negative roadside breath test and was handed a traffic infringement notice for negligent driving, police confirmed.

Ms Ociepa has been in a lot of pain, but is grateful she wasn’t walking her pet dog. Picture: Supplied

Ms Ociepa, who was hit about 100 metres from home, said she has been taken from the hospital’s intensive care unit and her recovery was ongoing.

Ms Ociepa told NewsLocal she felt “rattled” by the crash and spoke of the “severe pain” that followed.

She said she was walking home after visiting the nearby IGA supermarket when she spotted the car “cutting the corner”.

“I was crossing where I should have been but (the driver) just didn’t see me,” she said.

“I saw him coming from the corner – I looked left and I had no chance of getting out of the way.”

Ms Ociepa suffered a broken arm and has been left with “severe” nightmares.

“I have a really bad snap. My arm is snapped in half, basically. I’m lucky it wasn’t my head,” she said.

Ms Ociepa described herself as being a “strong minded person”, but believed she would likely suffer long-term impacts.

The puppy thankfully stayed at home on the day. Picture: Supplied

While Ms Ociepa has no family in the area, her “amazing friends” have “stepped up in a time of crisis”.

She recently purchased a 12-week old chow chow puppy and said she was fortunate she was not walking him at the time.

“The dog would not have survived that,” she said.

Ms Ociepa in her hospital bed. Picture: Supplied

One Byron resident took to Facebook to describe harrowing “screams of pain” from Ms Ociepa after she was struck.

The man ran to help and found “already about 10 people there”, doing what they could medically and trying to shield Ms Ociepa from the rain.

After the incident, Ms Ms Ociepa told the good Samaritans: “Thank you from the bottom of my heart“

Bayshore Drive, Byron Bay. Picture: Google Maps.

“I know someone was holding my hand the whole time and patting my forehead to provide as much comfort as possible,” she said.

“I would love to connect and thank you in person once I get better and get home at the end of the week hopefully. I was 100m away from my home.”

It’s understood the driver stayed on scene and spoke to authorities after the incident.

Ms Ociepa said he has not heard from him personally while in the hospital.

Mr Lyon previously expressed his relief Ms Ociepa was recovering and said he had reached out to the council’s director of infrastructure regarding the street’s lighting.