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Volume CXXXII, Number 9 |
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Student pedestrian struck by driver
KITTY SULLIVAN
ORIENT STAFF
A Bowdoin sophomore of Brunswick Apartments was struck by a Toyota Camry on Longfellow street at approximately 8:30 a.m. while she was walking her bicycle across the crosswalk on her way to class. The driver of the vehicle was a Brunswick resident. According to Patrol Officer Greg Mears, the bicycle obstructed the path of the car, and speed was not a factor.
Injuries sustained to the student were not life threatening, but an ambulance did take her to Park View Medical Hospital.
She sustained a hairline fracture in her pelvic bone and bruised several other bones. As a result, she will stay in Parkview overnight, but is anticipated to be released today.
Michael Ngo '04, a friend who visited the victim yesterday, said, "She's doing surprisingly well, considering the accident."
Kim Medsker '04 was returning to Brunswick Apartments when she saw the scene of the accident, "they were still measuring the skid marks of the tires, and the bike was lying in the center of the road."
These accidents, though not frequent, are an issue for the Bowdoin community. Bruce Boucher, Director of Security, recounted three incidents in the past two years involving students riding bicycles and one concerning a pedestrian. To prevent such problems Boucher suggests people "look both ways, make eye-contact with the individual, [and] the key issue is making sure that the vehicle driver in some way acknowledges your presence." He emphasized this by reminding students that "when in doubt, don't cross."
The town of Brunswick is involved in combating biker and pedestrian transportation problems. One step being taken currently is improving the McKeen street intersection.