A Penn State student was hit by a vehicle while crossing South Atherton Street at West Beaver Avenue Thursday night, prompting a State College police investigation into who may have furnished alcohol to the victim.
According to the accident report, 19-year-old Noorulain Khawaja (sophomore-communications) was struck in the crosswalk by a vehicle driven by graduate student Deniz Ersoz, 27, who was traveling south on South Atherton Street in a 1997 Subaru Impreza.
Ersoz, 445 Waupelani Dr., told police he was traveling at about 25 to 30 mph when he switched into the right-hand lane while approaching a green light at the intersection. He attempted to swerve out of the way to avoid hitting the group of girls crossing the street, according to the report. Ersoz was not under the influence of alcohol while driving, according to the report.
Police said Khawaja was transported to Mount Nittany Medical Center, where she received "a couple staples" in her head and was released.
Khawaja refused comment Friday at the police station but appeared to be walking on her own.
Khawaja's friend, Casey Cervenak (sophomore-communications), told police, who responded to the scene at 11:48 p.m., that she and Khawaja were crossing the street while given a "Do Not Walk" signal.
Michael Calabro (sophomore-film) was stopped in his vehicle on West Beaver Avenue when he saw the two women crossing South Atherton Street westbound toward him, according to the report. He said Cervenak had already made it to the curb, and Khawaja was struck just prior to making it to the other side of the street.
According to the report, Calabro verified that he was given a steady red light on West Beaver Avenue at the time of the accident, meaning pedestrians crossing South Atherton Street would have been given a "Do Not Walk" signal.
Khawaja, 225 E. Beaver Ave., was struck by the hood of the vehicle and hit her head while falling into the crosswalk, police said.
Police said they detected a strong odor of alcohol on both Khawaja and Cervenak, and said both had bloodshot and glassy eyes. Cervenak told police Khawaja had "a few mixed drinks earlier in the night," police said.
Police said the investigation will remain open to follow-up on possible furnishing charges for those who allegedly supplied alcohol to Khawaja and Cervenak.
The accident is the second vehicle-pedestrian incident that has occurred at that intersection in the last five months. On Oct. 28, Anthony Torsell, 21, of Bellefonte, hit and killed Richard Smith, 21, and critically injured student Aaron Stidd, 21, as they crossed South Atherton Street in the crosswalk at West Beaver Avenue, according to court documents.
Torsell is charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence and driving under the influence. Torsell allegedly had a blood alcohol content of .242 percent.
State College Borough Council member Ron Filippelli said there has been general informal discussion among council members about problems arising from students crossing Atherton Street at West Beaver Avenue and as the street stretches north toward Park Avenue.
"I'm quite sure that this is now going to come up for formal discussion with Borough Council," Filippelli said, adding that pedestrians under the influence of alcohol can be a problem in the area because they tend to ignore traffic lights.
