Tam Thanh Van, a 30-year-old research intern at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, was issued a citation for jaywalking after being hospitalized for minor injuries from being struck by a car on University Avenue this week.
Madison Police Department officers responded to a call at 5:10 p.m. Tuesday evening and arrived on the scene at the intersection of Babcock Drive and University Avenue shortly after.
An eyewitness said Thanh Van had been walking from the north side to the south side of University Avenue, crossing between stopped cars and traffic. Thanh Van made it across two lanes before the witness heard a “smack” and saw Thanh Van fly through the air for at least one car length, according to Madison Police Department spokesperson Joel DeSpain.
The victim was rushed to the University of Wisconsin Hospital where doctors said she was treated for facial cuts, bruises on her left arm and leg, as well as a non-life-threatening head injury.
Thanh Van was subsequently issued a $76 citation for sudden pedestrian movement which says, “…no pedestrian/bicyclist shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is difficult for the operator of a vehicle to yield,” according to DeSpain.
Although it may seem like a cruel irony, DeSpain said incidents like this are not uncommon. In fact, just last week a high school student was hospitalized for a broken leg after being hit while crossing a street on his way home from school. He was also issued a citation, DeSpain said.
“It’s unfortunate [Thanh Van] was injured, but we have to look at who was at fault in incidents like this,” DeSpain said. “People are injured in car accidents all the time and are still charged.”
UW Police Department Lt. Kari Sasso said situational awareness is often sacrificed by pedestrians for items like cell phones and iPods.
“Just this weekend, at the football game, I had someone texting on their cell phone walk right into my police horse,” Sasso said. “It just shows how unaware cell phones can make people, enough to walk into a 1,400-pound animal.”
The geography of downtown Madison can make walking around a particular danger and requires especially high attention levels to get around safely, according to DeSpain.
“We all have to share limited space, especially with downtown being squeezed in between two lakes,” DeSpain said.
UW spokesperson John Lucas said in his opinion, considering the number of students, bikes and mopeds, people do usually pay attention; however, sometimes they are careless.
“There is a tendency to cross in places where you shouldn’t when you’re running late or behind schedule — people need to be sure to give themselves extra time,” Lucas said.
DeSpain added people commonly follow others onto the street when it is not safe.
“It sounds like common sense, but the best way to stay safe is to stay in the crosswalks,” DeSpain said.
