The mother of a Boulder woman who died two years ago after she was hit by a pickup truck while walking across South Boulder Road is suing the driver.

Ellen Healy, who was a board member of the Mental Health Center Serving Boulder and Broomfield Counties, was walking across South Boulder Road at Manhattan Circle when she was hit by a Chevrolet S-10 truck on Oct. 19, 2007. The truck was not speeding, according to police, and Healy was not at an intersection or crosswalk.

Healy, 45, died after she was taken off life-support machines two days later, police reported.

Officers recommended that no charges be filed against the driver, Richard Bennett, 64, of Lyons, because they believed Healy was at fault.

But Ann Healy, 78, of Fort Collins, filed a lawsuit against Bennett in Boulder County District Court last month, claiming he was negligent and "failed to stop."

Ann Healy is asking a judge to order Bennett to compensate her for economic losses, including the cost of her daughter's funeral, past and future economic support and past and future household services. She also is claiming non-economic injuries, including grief, mental anguish, anger and loss of companionship.

Bennett told the Camera on Thursday he wishes every day that the accident hadn't happened.

"I would do anything to have not had that happen," he said. "It wasn't anything I did on purpose -- I wasn't driving too fast. It's like the worst nightmare."

He said he was blinded by the sun when Healy stepped in front of his truck.

"I couldn't see her until I was in the shadow, and I tried to stop," he said. "It isn't anything I would ever want to go through again."

Ann Healy did not return calls from the Camera on Thursday, but her attorney Bryan Kemler said his client has a case because the criminal standard of proof is much higher than the civil standard.

"Just because someone is not charged criminally doesn't mean they wouldn't be held civilly liable," he said. "He didn't hit her on purpose, but we are alleging that he was driving in a negligent manner.

"In Colorado, you are not allowed to hit pedestrians with your car," he said.