URI student hit by a car on campus

By: Chloe Leshner

cleshner@abc6.com

@cleshnerabc6

KINGSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — A University of Rhode Island student is in the hospital today after being hit by a car on campus. The driver is also a member of the campus community.

That student was hit by an SUV while he was riding his skateboard and school officials say his injuries were serious enough that he had to be life flighted to Rhode Island Hospital yesterday.

A frightening situation playing out on URI’s campus. Just 1 week into the new semester, a student involved in an accident. 18 year old Henry Karshis was riding his skateboard when he was struck by an SUV driven by another student.

"I heard it was bad and there was a lot of blood everywhere," says junior Nicole Kenneally.

It happened on West Alumni Road, the intersection extremely busy with cars and students.

"It’s concerning, a lot of people don’t pay attention coming out of the parking so that’s upsetting that it could happen to anybody because people cut across the street all the time," says Gabrielle Ricci, a junior.

Many students walking on campus today didn’t even know about the accident. Kenneally found out about it from a snapchat. She says the school never sent an email notifying them, something that’s concerning.

"I think we should have a right to know. We get the URI communication emails where they talk about parking and we get snow warnings and all that stuff. We got an email about the DACA thing but not about a student being hit by a car yet, " says Kenneally.

A representative for the school said not notifying students was an "oversight" and that they are working on sending out an email to students this afternoon and that their top priority at the time was on those involved in the accident.

The 19 year old driver of that car stayed on the scene and has been cooperating with police and there no charges pending at this time.

(C) WLNE/ABC 6 2017