If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an accident, it is important that you begin looking out for your best interests.

University student dies after Lincoln Avenue crash

Urbana police have released a report stating a truck, traveling on Lincoln Avenue near Nevada Street, struck two university students, resulting in one fatality. According to investigating detectives, the driver of the truck, a 58-year-old Urbana resident, was driving erratically at 10:00 a.m., swerving onto sidewalks, plowing down street signs and hitting a vehicle sitting in standing traffic on the busy street.

The first victim, identified as a junior at the university, was a 20-year-old female in the ACES program, or Academic Center for Exploratory Students, a service helping students to choose their majors.

The young woman’s cause of death is reportedly from trauma and fatal head injuries she suffered. The victim was taken to the Emergency Room at Carle Foundation Hospital. She was pronounced dead at 10:39 a.m., after numerous attempts to revive her failed.

The second victim, also a female university student, was struck by the truck and taken to Carle. Her condition is severe but she did not receive fatal injuries.

The driver of the truck who caused the incident consented to blood and urinalyses at Carle. He has been cited for operating a vehicle without insurance and improper lane changes.

According to a witness from a nearby construction site, the two girls were walking near a health center. When the truck hit them, he claims one victim fell under the vehicle and the second one was thrown over it. Another female student stated she was nearly hit by the truck before it struck the other two victims. She heard a loud noise and saw the truck speeding down the sidewalks. Then she heard screams. One observer came outside and observed a paramedic crew attempting CPR to one of the girls before transporting them to the hospital.

Nevada Street and Pennsylvania Avenue near Lincoln were closed for several hours by police following the incident. The investigation is ongoing.

Two young women, studying in school to better themselves, observing the law and walking down the sidewalk, were enjoying friendly banter. Suddenly, from out of nowhere, an erratic driver with no insurance, crossed the curb in his speeding vehicle and struck both victims in a devastating truck accident. What can be done to tighten rules of the road, and cut down on uninsured motorists, and impaired driving? This is a question for all of us to answer.

Source:  DailyIllini.com, “University student dies after accident on Lincoln Avenue” No author given, Oct. 09, 2013

Archives

FindLaw Network