At approximately 10:45 PM on Thursday, February 7, an as-of-yet unidentified female student was struck while on the sidewalk of Circle Road near Tabler Quad. The victim is reported to be alive after having been rushed to the nearby Stony Brook University Medical Center.
The officer was driving alone and in the process of responding to an emergency call about a large gathering of people on the north side of the Stony Brook Union when, for an as-of-yet undetermined reason, the vehicle veered off the road, striking and trapping the victim under the rear of the vehicle.
Assistant Chief of Police Lawrence Zacarese stated in a media briefing that there is no reason to suspect that the officer driving the vehicle was under the influence.
Much of the information surrounding the accident has still yet to be released, as the incident is still under investigation. However, Zacarese assured those present that the details surrounding the moments leading up to the incident, the identities of those involved, and the like will be released once the investigation is no longer in progress, which would be sometime “in the next couple of days.”
UPDATE 12:36 PM: University Police Chief Robert Lenahan has issued the following statement regarding the incident:”On Feb. 7 at approximately 10:12 pm, a University Police vehicle was responding to a 911 call when it accidentally struck a student pedestrian who was on a south side walkway of Circle Road, west of Engineering Drive. According to eyewitness reports, the responding vehicle was traveling with its emergency lights activated when it struck a sidewalk which caused it to veer onto the opposite walkway, subsequently striking the student pedestrian. Witnesses reported that the vehicle continued down an embankment and the pedestrian became lodged underneath the vehicle. The officer immediately radioed for assistance and multiple emergency response agencies arrived on the scene to assist the student and the officer. The student was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital and listed in fair condition. The Police Officer sustained minor injuries and was treated and released. University Police investigators are still in the process of conducting witness interviews and the investigation is ongoing.”
This story is still developing, and more details will be included as they become available.
