Graphic by Dami Kim, Digital Contributor
Two Emory students, one male and one female, were struck and seriously injured Tuesday morning when two cars crashed at the intersection of Clifton Road and Gatewood Drive and veered onto a nearby sidewalk where the two students were standing, according to a Sept. 23 University press release.
The two students injured in the accident were immediately transported to Grady Memorial Hospital, according to local news outlet CBS 46. Out of respect for the victim’s privacy, the Wheel has chosen not to release the names of the students and their updated conditions at this time.
According to the DeKalb County Police incident report, a vehicle took a left turn onto Gatewood Drive on a red light and collided with another vehicle. The vehicles were thrust off the roadway and collided with the two students who were standing on the corner of the sidewalk. The male pedestrian ended up under the second vehicle after being thrown up in the air. The female pedestrian was thrown into the air and landed in bushes nearby.
Goizueta Business School junior Zeena Lattouf was driving down Clifton Road when she saw the accident at the intersection.
She said she noticed a car swerving across the road, ending the eventual collision. Lattouf added that she saw the male on the sidewalk run away from the car before he was hit, and he tumbled as the car drove over him.
“After the initial shock of screaming in my car, the first thing that came to my mind was to call the police,” Lattouf said.
Right after the accident occurred, Lattouf said that a fire truck that she believed was standing by and not initially responding to the incident happened to pull up to the accident on its way to the fire station located across from Emory Point on Clifton Road.
Ed Rodgers, whose car was struck in the incident, told CBS 46 that a black SUV struck the students and “one guy flew about 15 feet” and “another girl got knocked into the bushes,” although Lattouf disputes that the male student was actually thrown that far.
College sophomore Shoeb Lallani said he saw the accident while he was walking.
“[The car] had a massive dent on the driver-side door,” Lallani wrote in an email to the Wheel. “The car was on top of the curb on the right side of the road in front of the Biology building. The door was completely collapsed onto the seat of the driver.”
Lallani added that he saw a young woman on a stretcher being treated by paramedics.
Counseling and support services remain available to the Emory community. Students may reach the Counseling and Psychological Services Center by calling 404.727.7450 or the Office of Religious Life at 404.727.6225. Faculty and staff may reach the Faculty Staff Assistance Program at 404.727.4328.
– By Dustin Slade, News Editor
Atlanta Hawks Beat Writer |
Dustin is a senior from Miami, FL in the Goizueta Business School studying strategy & management consulting and finance. He joined the Wheel’s editorial board in the spring of his freshman year and spent the next two years helping lead and shape the news team. Outside of the Wheel, Dustin is also a member of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity and an avid South Florida sports fan… even without LeBron James.
Now, over 10 days later, I have been surprised by the lack of publicity this event has received, especially considering that it was a potentially fatal car accident ending on Emory campus and involving three Emory students – two pedestrians and one driver, I notice not mentioned in this report even though the accident report is a public document.
One of the students who was hit, Braylan Ford (who gave permission for me to use his name), is still at Grady Hospital. He has suffered multiple third degree burns that were severe enough that the initial intended skin graft surgery had to be delayed. He is still unable to walk without assistance and even with assistance cannot walk more than a few feet. In spite of the severity of his injuries and the fact that he is an Emory student suffering because of an accident occurring on Emory campus, no faculty member, dean, or other upper-level administrative staff has called or visited. In the first few days at Grady, he was visited by a social worker and a chaplain, and while the social worker has called since, she has not visited. Braylan and his out-of-state family could benefit substantially from help navigating the overwhelmingly bewildering health care and legal system. The Emory administration, in spite of priding itself on the quality of their medical and legal programs, has done nothing for Braylan – not even offer a few kind words to let him know we care.
As an Emory student and member of the community, I am appalled by the treatment Braylan has received and lack of publicity this terrible car accident received in spite of being so close to home. I have reached out to Dean Joanne Brzinski and Mr. James Francois, as well as Braylan’s social worker, Mrs. Adrienne Slaughter. Understandably, they cannot discuss personal details of Braylan’s case due to HIPAA regulations, but have tried to assure me that Braylan is well taken care of. However, when visiting Braylan and speaking with him and his family in person, I hear an entirely different story.