NEWS
Union crash leaves pedestrian injured
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Also by Nick Penzenstadler:
- For whom the bell tolls (November 29, 2007)
- New apartments for West Wash? (November 20, 2007)
- One-and-out: Kumar will not seek 2nd term on Dane County Board (November 15, 2007)
- Displaced Carroll residents call university, bookstore helpful (November 13, 2007)
- Carroll Street fire displaces students (November 12, 2007)
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- Police looking for hit-and-run driver (October 18, 2007)
by Nick Penzenstadler
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
A 19-year-old University of Wisconsin student was struck by a car and dragged for several feet in front of Memorial Union Monday night.
According to the UW Police Department, the woman was crossing Langdon Street at approximately 7:10 p.m. when the car hit, dragged and pinned her underneath it.
The victim received "non-life-threatening injuries," said a dispatcher for the Madison Police Department.
"She was then taken to University Hospital after being cared for by the police and Madison Fire Rescue," a UWPD dispatcher added.
After attending an Associated Students of Madison meeting at Memorial Union, UW sophomore and ASM Student Judiciary Vice Chief Justice Sol Grosskopf said he witnessed the aftermath of the incident after walking toward the Madison Metro route 80 bus stop.
"I heard a crash and I saw a girl get hit by a car, (and) go over the hood to the windshield," Grosskopf said. "Then she landed in front of the car, which then dragged her for maybe 20 to 25 feet."
Grosskopf said he ran to the trapped girl who was still conscious until a volunteer fireman came along with the police.
Bystanders near the accident helped stop traffic until police arrived and also called 911, Grosskopf added. The girl was wearing a heavy winter jacket that Grosskopf said may have protected her from more serious injury.
"She was clearly scraped on her face, but thanks to the cold weather the only damages looked to be internal," Grosskopf said. "She asked if someone could call her mom. At first she was calm and eventually she got more and more upset."
The UWPD dispatcher said the woman's family is not from the Madison area.
According to Grosskopf, the driver of the small car exited his vehicle in shock after the accident.
"The driver came out and was basically in shock," Grosskopf said. "He didn't say anything, (he was) just catatonic, clearly shocked and surprised at what had just happened."
With winter conditions, Grosskopf said he suspected the slick roads and the girl's clothing played a part in the incident.
"She was wearing dark clothing," Grosskopf said. "If she would have gone under the wheels who knows what could have happened."
As of press time, the MPD said it is still investigating the incident and has not filed any charges.
Since the incident technically occurred on a city street and not on campus, the MPD took over the investigation from the UWPD.
Anonymous (February 13, 2007 @ 8:38am):
Another good, informative story from the news department at the Herald. I was walking into the Union around 8:00pm last night and witnessed the scene of this accident and the police cars blocking off Langdon and wondered what happened. Now, thanks to the Herald, I know. Good article -- hits the high points well and is short and sweet. Nice job Nick and the whole news team. Keep up the good work.
Anonymous (February 13, 2007 @ 10:55am):
They should put a stoplight in at that cross walk. Who's the alder there?
Anonymous (February 13, 2007 @ 1:09pm):
Yeah, I agree about the stoplight. It's kind of surprising people don't get hit more often there - you always have to guess whether the cars are really slowing down for you or not.
Anonymous (February 13, 2007 @ 2:04pm):
Thanks for reporting the story....Madison City news didn't feel it was newsworthy enought to report on. I hope she recovers.
Anonymous (February 13, 2007 @ 3:34pm):
The most dangerous thing is those stupid busses that sit there, blocking the view of traffic coming from the east.
Anonymous (February 13, 2007 @ 4:01pm):
"She was clearly scraped on her face, but thanks to the cold weather the only damages looked to be internal."
#1. Wouldn't internal damages be worse?
#2. Looked to be internal? I think you just contradicted yourself there.
Good article though!
Anonymous (February 13, 2007 @ 4:51pm):
I saw the police hauling off the driver in cuffs and he seemed more drunk than he was catatonic.
Anonymous (February 13, 2007 @ 6:28pm):
Looks like ASM is finally worth something.
Anonymous (February 13, 2007 @ 6:32pm):
Don't drive drunk!!!
Anonymous (February 13, 2007 @ 9:25pm):
this article needs to be re-written. you make it seem like the girl's fault she was hit by an extremely drunk driver. i highly suggest you clear this up because as one of her close friends i know a lot of people are angry about what you have portrayed. thanks.
Anonymous (February 13, 2007 @ 9:40pm):
Good thing there was a Knight in shining swade.
Anonymous (February 13, 2007 @ 9:57pm):
How does this ASM kid end up quoted so much - he is the medical expert that her coat saved her from injury (what?) and assumes that a dark coat contributed to an accident in a WELL LIT AREA ... more than the driver who wasn't that sober... also, why question the UWPD when it was a city call?
Anonymous (February 13, 2007 @ 10:13pm):
I agree that it is surprising more accidents do not occur in front of the Union. That crosswalk in particular seems to be a favorite place for students to cross without even looking up to see if there is a vehicle 10 feet away going 30 mph about to run them over. Thankfully, most Madisonian drivers have adapted to the "pedestrians first" mentality around campus, even if there is no crosswalk in sight, and it means slamming on the breaks, grinding to a halt, and waiting while dozens of students cross the street in mob-like fashion. North Charter between University and Observatory is another popular location for this activity. Perhaps this can be a lesson to pedestrians and drivers alike to be more mindful of each other.
Anonymous (February 13, 2007 @ 11:57pm):
re: 9:25
It really is sad about your friend, but this news story was written in the standard, inverted pyramid style of news writing that nearly every single story about a crash is written in. I don't see how it blames her at all...it just lays out the facts, just like it's supposed to. I don't think anyone would go away from this article thinking the poor girl did anything wrong.
Anonymous (February 14, 2007 @ 12:03am):
this is my friend, and i was at the hospital with her parents tonight...and for the record the driver was soo drunk that they had to take him to detox before putting him and jail....so dont make it seem like it was her fault for wearing a dark jacket...oh and by the way there was a lot more damage then some cuts and scrapes on her face...so dont make it seem like a decent guy just happened to hit her because he couldnt see her.
Anonymous (February 14, 2007 @ 10:20pm):
Yeah, if you read the Cardinal article, you'll know the victim suffered some pretty nasty injuries.
And to the person complaining about jaywalkers -- firstly, the victim was in a crosswalk and secondly, stay off campus if avoiding pedestrians while driving your car is just too difficult. Take the bus.
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