Car Hits Student at Crosswalk

A first year student suffered a concussion and a case of minor amnesia after she was struck by a car last week while crossing Quincy Street.

Yvonne M. Saenger '96 was struck at approximately 1 p.m. Saturday as she ran across the crosswalk between the Union and Lamont Library.

Saenger was transported by ambulance to the Mount Auburn Hospital Emergency Unit, where she was treated for a concussion and forehead laceration. She was then transferred to the Stillman Infirmary, where she spent Saturday night under observation and was released Sunday.

The Straus Hall resident said yesterday that she continues to feel some pain in her leg and has four stitches on the right side of her forehead.

According to Saenger's roommate, Cecilia Gonzalo '96, the car was accelerating toward Mass. Ave. from a parking space on Quincy Street when it hit Saenger and carried her several feet. Gonzalo said Saenger was thrown from the car when the driver, an elderly man, applied the brakes.

A Harvard police department spokesperson last night would not release the departments report of the incident and would not say whether the driver of the car was ticketed.

Saenger said yesterday she does not plan to press charges against the driver, or ask him to cover her medical expenses. Although she has not spoken to the driver, Saenger said his wife, who was a passenger in the car, contacted her after the accident.

"She sounded very concerned," Saenger said.

Sanger said she does not remember much about the incident, except for seeing the approaching car.

"All I remember is thinking, 'I'm not going to make it,'" Saenger said. "After a concussion, you don't remember who you are or where you are. I thought Bush was still president."

The intersection where Saenger was hit is regulated by a flashing yellow traffic light for vehicles and red flashing lights for pedestrians. According to the City of Cambridge Traffic Department, the light was erected after a request from the University several years ago.