Hit and run raises pedestrian safety awareness

Erica Terrini

News Editor

A student was struck in the intersection of West Broad and North Shafer Streets in a hit and run at 6:13 p.m. on Monday. The vehicle left the scene, and the victim was transported to Virginia Commonwealth University Health System.

The victim, who declined to be identified or speak over the phone, stated in an e-mail that he did not sustain any major injuries but reported to have sustained a busted lip, cut on the left temple, a cut and bruise on the left elbow and left knee, and experienced lower back pain.

“Nearly everything is the left side, since that is where I was hit,” he stated.

The victim stated he was leaving the School of the Arts Building around 5:30 p.m. Monday. He waited until he saw the pedestrian cross signal blink and made sure no vehicles were approaching from his left before proceeding to cross the six-lane street.

As the victim reached the middle of the street, toward the cement median, a vehicle appeared to his left.

“It was going to fast and right into me before I noticed,” the victim stated. “They hit my left side and I suppose I flew onto their hood and up over the side, down, smashing my face into the street.”

He got up immediately after being struck and could see the car driving off but could not make out the details because he had broken his glasses during the accident, the victim stated.

“It was all so fast it’s hard for me to remember what color it was or anything like that. I remember walking right next to someone else who must of been just a couple feet ahead of me,” he stated. “The car could have easily hit us both.”

According to the victim, a couple of students standing outside of the School of Arts Building heard it happen, and may have seen the car as it left the scene. He stated the two students were the only people who stopped to make sure he was OK, and offered to take him to the hospital.

Unable to find a security guard at the entrance of the School of Arts Building, the victim stated he dialed 911 several minutes after the accident.

“They arrived relatively quickly,” he stated. “It seems like I was very lucky.”

He stated he hopes there are more witnesses with tips.

“I have noticed many other times in that same intersection cars turning onto West Broad from Shafer and coming very close to hitting students,” he stated.

According to Capt. Grant Warren, the deputy chief of support services for the VCU Police Department, the incident unfortunately highlights concerns of VCU Police in regard to pedestrian safety.

Capt. Warren stated VCU Police publish pro-active pedestrian safety information regularly to help promote safety and prevent accidents and injury in the VCU and Richmond community.

Anyone who has information or an anonymous tip concerning the hit and run of a pedestrian at West Broad and North Shafer streets should call VCUPD Investigations at 828-6409. VCUPD Report Number – 01-10-000386.