A student was struck by a Blue Bird bus while waiting to board the vehicle at Flint Loop Wednesday night.
According to a representative from Blue Bird, who asked that his name be withheld, the student was waiting in front of the yellow line on the sidewalk and was not watching as the bus approached. He then turned around as the bus was passing, and the side mirror of the bus grazed his book bag, knocking the student to the ground.
Jelani Freeman, a Spectrum reporter who witnessed the accident, said the student was walking near the bus shelter in front of Capen Hall when the bus turned the corner. "His book bag got caught on the side mirror and it flung him around and he flew a little bit and fell to his stomach," Freeman said.
"The bus driver immediately stopped and got off the bus to check if he was all right. He got up and [the bus driver] stood out there with him for a while to make sure he was okay."
University Police were called but the student "refused medical treatment," said John Grela, director of University Police. The student then boarded the bus and continued on to South Campus
"That is where he complained of back pain," the Blue Bird representative said.
According to Dennis Black, vice president for Student Affairs, the University Police also checked out the bus driver and concluded she was fit to continue the bus run.
When a reporter tried to contact the driver Thursday afternoon, she was in a hearing discussing the incident and unable to comment.
