Abhishek Singh, an Ohio University student from India working on his doctorate in physics and astronomy, was killed Saturday night after he apparently was hit in a two-vehicle accident and thrown into the Hocking River. He was 22.
Singh was born in Faizabad in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India on July 7, 1984.
His parents are Amarendra and Indu Singh.
He had been studying at Ohio University since fall of 2006. Before coming to Ohio University, Singh studied at the National Institute of Technology in Jamsehdpur in the state of Jharkhand in India. He earned a degree in electrical engineering.
He was always very enthusiastic
probably one of the most enthusiastic students I knew said Ken Hicks, professor in physics and astronomy and advisor for Singh's summer research project. He really wanted to make some discovery or some contribution to the world through physics.
One of his roommates, Sunny Mishra, said that Singh's aim was to serve India after getting his degree.
Singh was also a member of the Indian Students Association at OU.He used to go out in the morning [to study and do research] and come back late at night said Santosh Vijapur, the association's treasurer.
Singh placed third in the Microsoft Imagine Cup prize in 2005 for his work in computer programming and received $3,000. He was also awarded about $5,000 from Texas Instruments in 2004.
Although he did not accept the position, Singh was selected to be a scientist in the Defense Research and Development Organization for the government of India, Mishra said.
Singh's body will be returned to his family in India for burial, said George Mauzy, spokesman for the university. The university will later hold a memorial service for Singh.
Singh was killed Saturday when an SUV allegedly careened across the Richland Avenue bridge, hit him and sent him into the river.
The SUV was part of a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Richland Avenue and State Route 682 that happened around 11:20 p.m. on Saturday, Lt. Randy Gray of the Athens Police Department, said.
Police found the body of Singh, a 22-year-old graduate student from India'nearly 14 hours after the accident'in the Hocking River on Sunday at about 3:25 p.m.
Police officers were at the accident scene on Saturday night, but the drivers did not report that a pedestrian had been hit, Gray said.
No one had any idea [a pedestrian had been hit] until after we found the body
he added.
On Sunday, however, people on the bike path along the Hocking River noticed what resembled a body in the river and notified the OU Police Department, who later contacted the Athens Police Department, Gray said.
The initial accident occurred when April Hankinson, 26, of Athens, ran the red light at State Route 682 while traveling northbound on Richland Avenue in her Ford Explorer, Gray said.
Hankinson's vehicle was hit by a Subaru LGX compact traveling eastbound on Route 682, Gray said. The eastbound vehicle's driver was Naomi Bell, 45, of Ravenswood, W.Va. Hankinson's car careened into Singh, knocking him off the bridge, Gray said.
Hankinson and Bell were taken to O'Bleness Memorial Hospital, 55 Hospital Drive, for minor injuries and were released, Gray said.
Police have a blood sample from Hankinson and will determine if she had alcohol in her blood, Gray said. He did not say if alcohol was a factor in the crash.
Once the crash's investigation is complete, the prosecutor's office will review the evidence and decide if charges will be filed, Gray said.
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