FATAL111907

Mankato students, one lying in road, hit by car; one dead

A student at Minnesota State University, Mankato, was killed early Sunday and another was seriously injured when a vehicle driven by a 17-year-old hit them in Mankato, authorities said.

By Chao Xiong, Star Tribune

Last update: November 18, 2007 - 7:09 PM

A student at Minnesota State University, Mankato, was killed early Sunday and another was seriously injured when a vehicle driven by a 17-year-old hit them in Mankato, authorities said.

One of the women was reportedly lying in the road and the other was trying to help her when they were struck, officials said.

The women, in their early 20s, were upperclassmen, said university spokesman Michael Cooper.

The women's identities were not released, pending notification of relatives.

They were leaving a sorority gathering and walking north on 3rd Avenue when they were struck at 12:47 a.m. The accident occurred near Kingswood Drive, according to Mankato police.

Both women were taken to Immanuel St. Joseph's Hospital in Mankato, where one was pronounced dead and the other underwent surgery, according to a news release.

The vehicle that struck the women was driven by a 17-year-old Mankato resident whose identity has not been released.

On Sunday night, police would not say why one woman was lying in the street, which one died or what they were doing before the accident.

Police commander Dan Schisel said the area where the women were struck is industrial and not close to residential streets. There are no stop signs or traffic lights in the area, where the speed limit is 40 miles per hour, he said.

Cooper said there are no sorority residences in the area. "Certainly, it's a tragic event," he said.

The university posted an alert about the accident on its website Sunday afternoon, including a message from university president Richard Davenport.

"Our deepest, heartfelt sympathies go out to loved ones, fellow students, friends and acquaintances," he said. "And we extend our wishes for a speedy, complete recovery to the injured student."

As early as today, a page will be added to the university's website to allow friends and family members to access information about the accident and post their thoughts, Cooper said.

A memorial is also being planned for sometime before Thanksgiving break, he added. The students' friends were being contacted by university grief counselors.

Last month, 18-year-old Minnesota State University, Mankato, freshman Catherine Delwiche was struck and killed by a vehicle near the campus of 14,500 students while training for a cross-country meet. Her teammate, Laura Palmer, suffered minor injuries. That accident remains under investigation.

Chao Xiong • 612-673-4391

Chao Xiong • cxiong@startribune.com