An Ohio University graduate student was hit by a truck yesterday while walking across Richland Avenue toward Porter Hall.
Charles Chas Wheeler, 24, a clinical psychology major, was hit head-on by a black Chevrolet 3500 pick-up truck at approximately 4:10 p.m. He was life-flighted to Grant Medical Center in Columbus last night and was in the intensive care unit as of 8 p.m. yesterday.
OU senior Brittany Free, an early education major, was walking to the Aquatic Center when she witnessed the event. Free said she heard the screech of brakes and witnessed a man get hit by the truck, causing him to smash into the truck's windshield and hit the ground.
Wheeler was reading a newspaper as he walked, Free said.
The collision caused the right fifth of the truck's font windshield to shatter and cave in, while the right passenger side mirror was hanging off the truck.
Free said she and three other bystanders tried to stop Wheeler's bleeding before the police and ambulance arrived.
Minutes later, Southeast Ohio Emergency Medical Services, Athens Police Department and Athens Fire Department arrived. Wheeler was put on a stretcher and driven to O'Bleness Memorial Hospital before being flown to Grant Medical Center.
APD officer Jeff McCall said the driver was an Ohio University employee. The driver has not been arrested but the case is under investigation.
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Sean Edgar
