Spring Break
OSU student struck by pickup truck in alleyway
Fraser, 24, suffered a fractured skull and believes that he was hit intentionally
Taryn Luna
Issue date: 1/20/09 Section: News
OSU student Andy Fraser was hit by a silver pickup truck at about 1 a.m. on Jan. 8 while walking with three friends up the alleyway between Northwest 25th and Northwest 26th Streets.
Fraser and his friends were leaving a low-key night at Bombs Away Café when a silver pick-up truck, about the size of a Ford Ranger, turned quickly into the alley from Harrison Boulevard and barreled toward them, witnesses said.
"Initially, I put my hands up for us to be seen, to avoid the situation of getting hit by a car," said Fraser, 24, who had been closest to the truck. The speeding truck recognized the pedestrians and slowed down. As the car was coming to a stop, Fraser shook his hands to indicate to the driver to chill out, he said.
Seconds after stopping, the driver revved the truck's engine and initiated what Fraser can only liken to a game of "chicken" that he wasn't prepared to begin.
"They accelerated through him, kind of slowed down and then took off again," said Fraser's friend Joe Monson.
According to eye-witness accounts from both Fraser and Monson, Fraser was struck by the front of the truck, rolled over the top of it towards the passenger side and his leg was ran over by the back tire.
Fraser can't remember what happened after the impact, although he remained conscious. He managed to call his father, but has no recollection of the conversation.
After calling 911 and seeing that Fraser was awake and able to talk, Monson ran across a nearby fraternity lawn to get a better look at the fleeing vehicle. Monson was unsuccessful.
Police responded to the scene within a minute and ambulances transported Fraser to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis. He was released on Friday morning after being diagnosed with a non-displaced right occipital skull fracture and suffered from bleeding in his brain.
"I think the force of the car knocked me backwards, and I hit my head on the concrete," Fraser said. In the days following his release, Fraser said he is in more pain now with the frequent headaches and soreness than before the incident. The doctors say the pain could last for weeks or even months.
Fraser and his friends were leaving a low-key night at Bombs Away Café when a silver pick-up truck, about the size of a Ford Ranger, turned quickly into the alley from Harrison Boulevard and barreled toward them, witnesses said.
"Initially, I put my hands up for us to be seen, to avoid the situation of getting hit by a car," said Fraser, 24, who had been closest to the truck. The speeding truck recognized the pedestrians and slowed down. As the car was coming to a stop, Fraser shook his hands to indicate to the driver to chill out, he said.
Seconds after stopping, the driver revved the truck's engine and initiated what Fraser can only liken to a game of "chicken" that he wasn't prepared to begin.
"They accelerated through him, kind of slowed down and then took off again," said Fraser's friend Joe Monson.
According to eye-witness accounts from both Fraser and Monson, Fraser was struck by the front of the truck, rolled over the top of it towards the passenger side and his leg was ran over by the back tire.
Fraser can't remember what happened after the impact, although he remained conscious. He managed to call his father, but has no recollection of the conversation.
After calling 911 and seeing that Fraser was awake and able to talk, Monson ran across a nearby fraternity lawn to get a better look at the fleeing vehicle. Monson was unsuccessful.
Police responded to the scene within a minute and ambulances transported Fraser to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis. He was released on Friday morning after being diagnosed with a non-displaced right occipital skull fracture and suffered from bleeding in his brain.
"I think the force of the car knocked me backwards, and I hit my head on the concrete," Fraser said. In the days following his release, Fraser said he is in more pain now with the frequent headaches and soreness than before the incident. The doctors say the pain could last for weeks or even months.
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