[media-credit name=’JEFF SCHORFHEIDE/Herald photo’ align=’alignright’ width=’336′][/media-credit]A 20-year-old Madison Area Technical College student died March 31 due to injuries sustained during a hit-and-run accident less than three weeks earlier at the intersection of Park and Regent Streets.

Luke Peerenboom was walking home alone March 14 at roughly 2 a.m. when he was hit by what the Madison Police Department described as a dark-colored minivan with a tinted rear window.

Peerenboom was taken to the University of Wisconsin Hospital, where he remained in a coma until life support was removed and he succumbed to his injuries.

No suspects have been arrested in relation to the hit-and-run, and the MPD is asking the public for leads or information about the incident.

According to the MPD, the van involved in the accident likely sustained front-end damage as a result of the collision.

Sgt. Bernie Gonzalez of the MPD said although police and investigators rely heavily on physical evidence found at the crime scene, they also depend on tips from the community to solve most crimes.

"A lot of people feel like, 'Well, I only saw this,' and they don't really feel like it's a lot of help, but often that little thing that they heard or saw is the final piece that puts everything together," Gonzalez said. "Community involvement is crucial."

In response to the incident, UW released a series of pedestrian safety tips that are posted on its website. Tips include wearing bright clothing and using UW's SAFEwalk or SAFEride services when traveling alone at night.

The MPD also released safety tips for motorists, urging them to yield to pedestrians even if they are crossing at an unmarked location.

According to the victim's cousin, Jill Peerenboom, who contacted The Badger Herald after the incident, he had expressed interest in transferring to UW in the future.

There is no indication whether alcohol was a factor in the incident.