Spring Break
The Daily OrangeStudent stable after being hit by drunk driver
By Lauren Bertolini
Posted: 8/25/08, 12:37 AM EST Section: News
A Syracuse University student crossing Comstock Avenue on foot was hit by a fellow student's car early Saturday morning.
A silver Jeep driven by Melanie Diaz, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, struck Matthew Lax, a sophomore in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, at approximately 12:50 a.m., said Sgt. Tom Connellan of the Syracuse Police Department.
Diaz was arrested at the scene and charged with driving while intoxicated after officers from the SPD detected an odor of alcohol while discussing the incident with her, Connellan said.
She also was ticketed for failing to yield to a pedestrian, he said.
Diaz immediately pulled over after striking Lax. She told police that he "came out of nowhere" and that she did not realize she had hit someone until she saw Lax in the road, Connellan said.
Lax was walking across Comstock Avenue between University Place and Euclid Avenue, according to the SPD report.
Lax was initially unconscious and breathing as he lay on the centerline of Comstock Avenue, Connellan said. He already had gained consciousness when an SU ambulance arrived to drive him to University Hospital.
The initial report from the SPD listed Lax in fair condition with head trauma. As of Sunday afternoon, he was in stable to good condition, a University Hospital nurse said.
Diaz was released with a ticket requiring her to appear in Syracuse City Court. The university will file judicial charges after she has gone through the criminal justice system, said Kevin Morrow, SU spokesman.
"Typically, the procedure is that the individual has to go through the criminal justice system, and then once that outcome is determined, the university will follow up with their judicial system," Morrow said. "There are any number of actions that could be taken."
Lax's parents were contacted and came to Syracuse from out of town Saturday morning, Morrow said.
Miso Suchy, program coordinator in VPA's film department, e-mailed all sophomore film majors Saturday about the incident.
lrbertol@syr.edu
A silver Jeep driven by Melanie Diaz, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, struck Matthew Lax, a sophomore in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, at approximately 12:50 a.m., said Sgt. Tom Connellan of the Syracuse Police Department.
Diaz was arrested at the scene and charged with driving while intoxicated after officers from the SPD detected an odor of alcohol while discussing the incident with her, Connellan said.
She also was ticketed for failing to yield to a pedestrian, he said.
Diaz immediately pulled over after striking Lax. She told police that he "came out of nowhere" and that she did not realize she had hit someone until she saw Lax in the road, Connellan said.
Lax was walking across Comstock Avenue between University Place and Euclid Avenue, according to the SPD report.
Lax was initially unconscious and breathing as he lay on the centerline of Comstock Avenue, Connellan said. He already had gained consciousness when an SU ambulance arrived to drive him to University Hospital.
The initial report from the SPD listed Lax in fair condition with head trauma. As of Sunday afternoon, he was in stable to good condition, a University Hospital nurse said.
Diaz was released with a ticket requiring her to appear in Syracuse City Court. The university will file judicial charges after she has gone through the criminal justice system, said Kevin Morrow, SU spokesman.
"Typically, the procedure is that the individual has to go through the criminal justice system, and then once that outcome is determined, the university will follow up with their judicial system," Morrow said. "There are any number of actions that could be taken."
Lax's parents were contacted and came to Syracuse from out of town Saturday morning, Morrow said.
Miso Suchy, program coordinator in VPA's film department, e-mailed all sophomore film majors Saturday about the incident.
lrbertol@syr.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
AnonymousPerson
posted 8/25/08 @ 7:50 AM EST
It was an unfortunate incident. The lives of two students have changed before classes even start.
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