 Medics place junior social work major Lea D. Levine on a stretcher Tuesday after an AppalCART bus struck her on Rivers Street. Jamie McGirt | The Appalachian Tommy W. Medley, driver of the POP 105 bus, was turning left out of Raley Parking Lot into the far right lane of Rivers Street as Levine was crossing Rivers Street toward Farthing Auditorium.
A University Police incident report indicates Levine had a hood on and was listening to music through ear buds when she crossed in front of the bus.
University Police Chief Gunther E. Doerr said Levine did not appear to have any serious injuries, though she was still taken to Watauga Medical Center.
“Medley told me he had a green light at the intersection, but he stopped as soon as he saw the girl,” AppalCART Director Chris D. Turner said.
Turner said this is not the first time a pedestrian has had a run-in with the AppalCART, and a similar situation happened roughly 10 years ago.
The situation also questioned validity of a rumor often passed around campus: that students hit by the AppalCART would receive free tuition.
“I certainly hope students weren’t running in front of a bus to try to get free tuition,” Turner said. “We do not do that.”
Following the incident, Medley’s mandated alcohol test came back negative, with the drug test results currently unavailable.
AppalCART’s safety council will review the incident at a later date.
“Hopefully this incident will serve as a recognition that we as pedestrians have to be as responsible as the drivers,” Turner said.
Story: JULIANNE OLSON, Intern News Reporter
Photo: JAMIE MCGIRT, Intern Photographer
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