Student hit by car on campus
Jessie Gasch
Issue date: 9/29/05 Section: News
|
Barczykowski was traveling westbound on Patterson Street when she was hit by a car at the intersection of Patterson and Franklin streets, which is a four-way stop.
Junior Elizabeth Gates, 19, of Kirksville was driving the vehicle, a gray 1985 Dodge Diplomat.
"It happened right into the intersection," Kirksville Deputy Chief Tim King said. "[Barczykowski] apparently ran the stop sign."
Barczykowski, who was on her way to her home on Ann Street, said she remembers seeing a car at the corner.
"I thought there was another car that had blown through the intersection," she said. "It wasn't until later that I realized that car was the one who hit me."
She said that upon striking the bumper of the car, she rolled onto the hood, but her injuries are not critical.
"I have scrapes from the concrete on my back and some bruising," she said. "Nothing's broken or anything."
She said the weather conditions contributed to the accident.
"I don't believe it had started raining yet, but it was kind of dewy," Barczykowski said. "I don't think I slowed down as much as I could have, and I don't think she saw me either."
She said the Kirksville Police Department informed her the maximum speed of the vehicle could have been 25 mph.
"But I think she stopped first, so she probably wasn't going that fast," Barczykowski said.
She said she was transported by ambulance to Northeast Regional Medical Center and released about 12:30 p.m.
"It was only about three hours," Barczykowski said. "I was pretty surprised."
She said the hospital informed her they would ask Gates' automobile insurance company to cover her medical expenses first, but she has insurance as well.
"I don't foresee taking any legal action because it was partially my fault," Barczykowski said.
Gates said the experience was a little traumatic for her, as well.
"I was stopped at a stop sign, and then I was going, and all of a sudden there was a girl in front of me on a bike," she said. "She flew up and then fell."
Gates said she did not see Barczykowski at all before striking her.
"It was scary," she said. "... I looked to see if there were any cars, but my windows were kind of foggy, so that might be why too."
Gates said she called the Kirksville Police Department later Wednesday to check on Barczykowski's condition.