Student Pedestrian Struck Along National Road — College Safety Says Don't Cross Dangerous Road

For Immediate Release:
March 5, 2008

RICHMOND, Ind. — An accident occurred at the entrance to Earlham College at approximately 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 5, 2008. A student pedestrian crossing National Road (U.S. 40) was struck by a vehicle.

Rural/Metro Ambulance transported the student to Reid Memorial Hospital. The student's condition has not yet been released. We do not know if there are any injuries at this time.

Update: (Monday, March 10, 2008) The Earlham student was examined by physicians at Reid Hospital and was released the same day without serious injury.

Earlham President Douglas C. Bennett has been advocating for traffic regulation at the College's National Road entrance for some time.

"This crosswalk is a tragedy waiting to happen," said Bennett, commenting on this afternoon's event. "We're only lucky today that we did not get the real tragedy. We've been telling the state over and over we need a stoplight here."

Bennett also notes that the stretch of National Road where Earlham has student residences on one side and its academic buildings on the other is the longest stretch of the highway within the Richmond city limits without a traffic signal.

At the scene, Vice President for Community Relations Avis Stewart shared his frustration, "We've just had a meeting about this. We're very concerned about pedestrian safety and the loss of life at this intersection."

The meeting Stewart referred to occurred on February 29, 2008, between Earlham and INDOT officials. It was held at MCL Restaurant and Bakery in Richmond where Richard Smith, Earlham vice president for financial affairs, and Stewart presented a variety of concerns about the safety of the College's entrance. Richmond Mayor Sally Hutton and a group of state representatives were also in attendance at that meeting.

According to Cathy Anthofer, director of campus safety and security, this is the third incident this school year along College property on National Road.

— EC —

Contact:
Mark Blackmon, director of media relations
765/983-1256 — E-Mail Mark

Earlham College · 801 National Road West · Richmond, Indiana 47374-4095
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This page last updated: March 13, 2008