Vehicle strikes student on crosswalk

By Evan Dyson, senior writer
Posted on January 24, 2008

A JMU student is doing well, but a little sore, after being struck by an SUV on Tuesday afternoon near Memorial Hall.

At about 2:15 junior Tiffany Martin of Chesterfield, 20, left class on the Quad and began walking toward her car parked near Memorial Hall. As she entered the crosswalk at Cantrell Avenue and South High Street, she said she never saw anything coming.

According to Sgt. R.D. Knott of the Harrisonburg Police Department, Martin was struck by an Isuzu Rodeo driven by Marcelo P. Santiago of Harrisonburg, 56.

“I think the guy was supposed to yield and he didn’t,” Martin said.

After being back-boarded at the scene by paramedics, Martin was taken to the Rockingham Memorial Hospital. Martin, who said she felt fine at the time, left the hospital shortly after arriving and returned to the intersection to speak with officers.

“The pedestrian had the right of way, according to witnesses,” Knott said.

Officers on the scene tested the crossing signals and found them to be working normally, Knott said.

Wednesday morning Martin awoke feeling sore and went to the hospital as a precaution. Martin said she was told she had a strained neck muscle and that she should be fine.

When she was struck, Martin landed on her backpack, softening the blow to her head and back.

“I think it helped a lot,” she said.

The vehicle sustained minor front-end damage. According to Knott, Santiago was charged with driving without a license and reckless driving.