A female student was hit by an unidentified vehicle on Hadley Road in front of Governors Residence Halls Monday night and taken to the Erie County Medical Center where she was treated for minor injuries.
According to John Grela, director of public safety, there are few details about the incident since there are no reported witnesses.
"The best we could put together at this point in time is that the lady was crossing a street and was hit by a vehicle," he said.
The driver of the vehicle, which Grela said was probably a dark green or brown SUV, did not stop after hitting the girl.
"She was found lying in the road," Grela said. "A bus driver saw her and called our office right away."
A hit and run is a "serious charge," according to Grela.
He estimated the incident occurred within 15 minutes of the bus driver's 7:43 p.m call.
The student was released from the hospital late Tuesday night after being treated for her injuries and questioned about the incident.
"She was shaken up," Grela said.
Grela stressed to drivers on campus that pedestrians always have the right of way in crosswalks. A New York state law passed in September forces drivers to stop for pedestrians and forbids them from swerving around crossing pedestrians.
The speed limit where the incident occurred is 30 mph-recommended 20 mph in crosswalks-and although Grela acknowledged it was probable the hit and run driver was speeding, that fact could not be confirmed because there were no witnesses.
Since the new law requiring drivers to stop for pedestrians went into effect, UB has taken steps to prevent accidents.
"We've had problems reported before (by pedestrians), and we've put officers in marked and unmarked vehicles" to stop and warn offending drivers, Grela said.
Grela said any students who have information regarding the hit and run Monday night can contact the University Police at 645-2222.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
