A parking enforcement officer accused Ohio University's star track thrower of striking her with a car yesterday.
OU senior Bahiyjaui A. Allen, 21, of 363 Richland Ave., the only nationally qualified shot put and discus thrower on the track and field team, had racked up $145 in parking tickets by the time Officer Judy Hudnall called a truck to tow her car yesterday morning.
Allen was asked to remain at the scene, according to a police report.
Despite Hudnall's warnings, Allen drove her gray Nissan HB onto the street, striking Hudnall in the leg. Allen fled to N. College Street, according to the report. Officers caught up with her at the Court Street Chase Bank.
Other Athens parking officers have experienced problems while giving tickets, but rarely do they need to call for police back up, said Connie Lewis, a parking enforcement officer.
As far as that goes
the occurrences the really bad occurrences are fewer and far between. Now the daily stuff
people calling names
having smart remarks
that kind of thing is more of a daily thing
that's not a safety issue
Lewis said.
Police Capt. Tom Pyle said some people confront parking officials when they are given tickets.
People threaten them
yes
and typically when one of them is struck by a car it is when they are about to tow it and somebody gets into the car to flee they try to stand in front of it and some people just don't pay attention to it
Pyle said.
OU students say they have had their share of parking tickets. Lindsay Castle, a junior studying journalism, said that although she has only received one ticket in Athens, parking officers have carefully watched her meter.
I ran in to have dinner at Broney's and I put enough in there to have an hour and I came out and there was one minute left and she was standing there
