A bicyclist and a pedestrian were injured in separate accidents involving motorists yesterday on Atherton Street.

The male bicyclist suffered severe head and leg injuries, and the condition of the female pedestrian is still unknown. Witnesses at the scene described her injuries as not appearing serious.

Penn State student George Trammel, 19, was transported to Centre Community Hospital, after a brown Ford Club Wagon minivan hit his bike on North Atherton Street, police said. Trammel was then life-flighted to Geisinger Medical Center.

As of last night, Trammel was still in the operating room, a Geisinger spokeswoman said.

The bicyclist was struck at about 11 a.m. yesterday, and the accident is still under investigation, State College Police Department Cpl. Mark Argiro said. He said charges might be filed if it is found that either the motorist or cyclist committed a violation.

Preliminary investigation revealed Trammel was entering North Atherton Street from the bus station driveway when he was struck by the van, police said.

The bike was positioned in the left turning lane of North Atherton Street after the accident. The man's shoe was found on the sidewalk.

The van was being driven by 21-year-old Cassandra Rhoads, of Howard. Rhoads was driving southbound on Atherton Street and had two passengers in the van, none of whom were injured, police said.

Witnesses said the bike accident appeared to be serious.

"The way the bike looked, it looked pretty mangled," said Jamie Clark, (sophomore-mechanical engineering) who saw the bicyclist. Clark said the man was still moving after the accident occurred.

The State College police arrived at the scene and were assisted by Penn State Police Services, the State College Public Works Department and Alpha Community Ambulance Service, Argiro said.

Portions of South Atherton Street were temporarily closed due to the bike accident.

Many people who passed the accident said they think the intersection is unsafe.

"Sometimes it's a green light, and people still cross ... it's dangerous," said Zhidan Zhang, a lab technician for the astrobiology research center, who observed the aftermath of the accident.

The female pedestrian, who is unidentified, was struck while trying to cross illegally between the crosswalks east to west near Penn State's Information Sciences and Technology Building at about 5 p.m. She was taken to Centre Community Hospital by ambulance, police said.

The investigation is continuing on the bike accident, and police ask anyone who witnessed the incident to call 234-7150.