DePauw student injured walking across traffic

Monday, September 2, 2019

A DePauw University student found himself in an Indianapolis hospital Saturday after he was struck by an SUV.

At 1:29 p.m., Jack Woods of Franklin, Tenn. was crossing Washington Street from north to south between Old National Bank and Eli’s Books/Starbucks when he was hit by the vehicle.

Witnesses at the scene, including the driver, David Sells of Greencastle, told Greencastle Police Department Sgt. Ed Wilson traffic was stopped westbound as a vehicle waited to turn left at the Indiana Street intersection. However, eastbound traffic was moving freely.

Moving at what was described as a run, Woods crossed between two of the stopped vehicles and “appeared” in the path of Sells’ 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer.

Sells had no time to react, and Woods collided with the left front quarter of Sells’ vehicle.

The impact flung Woods to the ground. Upon the arrival of police, he had a large, open wound on his forehead and was complaining of right hip and leg pain.

Woods was awake and conscious as Wilson, along with Capt. Chris Jones and Officer Jared McDaniel, rendered aid until the arrival of medics.

Due to the nature of Woods’ injuries, Putnam County Operation Life transported him directly to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

Wilson called the university on Sunday regarding Woods’ condition, but no update was available. The injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

“It’s a sad thing and a reminder of why we should use the crosswalks and not run across traffic,” Wilson said.

The Greencastle Fire Department was also on scene to assist.

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  • *

    He should have been ticketed for jaywalking.

    I almost hit a DePauw student a year or two back, crossing at that same block b/c they neglected to use the crosswalk.

    I have no sympathy for this guy, or anybody that cant follow simple traffic laws. Or use ordinary common sense when crossing a road.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Tue, Sep 3, 2019, at 9:11 AM
  • dreadpirateroberts I totally agree but since it is a DePauw student it won't happen!

    -- Posted by putnamcountyproud on Tue, Sep 3, 2019, at 12:15 PM
  • "Walking Across Traffic" in the headline is deceiving when you read what "was described as a run" in the article. It is unfortunate what happened and it surely shook-up the driver of the vehicle. Most of these DPU students are as smart as can be, but lack good common sense. Please use the crosswalks and keep your eyes where you're walking not on your phone.

    -- Posted by gustave&zelma on Tue, Sep 3, 2019, at 4:47 PM
  • Saw another one jut out across traffic today. Walking from old national bank across the street to the book store. Here's a thought...USE THE CROSSWALK

    -- Posted by canttakeitanymore on Tue, Sep 3, 2019, at 9:06 PM
  • 231N and Washington crosswalk is where I get almost hit most of the time even when the pedestrian light is on.

    Its an unfortunate situation for anyone to get hit, even for a small mistake that many people including students and folks in town do on a regular basis. I can sit at starbucks and watch everybody and their brother jaywalk that intersection. I've also seen countless cars stop on the crosswalk when crossing at this intersection with my kids.

    Seeing how this is a pedestrian heavy area, I think our town could benefit from more "yield to pedestrian" type signs in these heavy foot traffic areas to slow down traffic.

    -- Posted by mattwcummings on Tue, Sep 3, 2019, at 9:30 PM
  • We need the police to ticket cars early each morning to drivers that believe that parking on the yellow, blocking crosswalks or in no parking zones doesn't apply to them as they are just stopping quickly for a cup of coffee. There is no quick stop at Starbucks as there's almost always a line. Maybe once the new bakery gets opened a block south the traffic patterns will shift to a block south of the current problem area.

    -- Posted by gustave&zelma on Wed, Sep 4, 2019, at 4:39 PM
  • An animosity between Greencastle people and DePauw students has always existed. DePauw drops a lot of money into the public coffers yearly yet some just cannot get along with DePauw. Having no sympathy for a fellow person is a rather low attitude to foster.

    I recommend this: quit your belly-aching attitude about anyone crossing the street, put down your cellphone and pay attention to the road!!!

    -- Posted by donantonio on Wed, Sep 4, 2019, at 6:23 PM
  • *

    Don Antonio -

    When people play stupid games, they deserve to win stupid prizes.

    This guy - and many others, whether DePauw students or not - think that just b/c they are pedestrians that they have the right of way and traffic must yield to them. This is incorrect.

    If there is a crosswalk (especially one with crossing lights) then you are to use the crosswalk. If you walk (or run) into traffic outside of the crosswalk, you can (and should) be held liable for any negative results. Ask any cop and they will tell you this.

    Since you don't like my lack of sympathy for stupid people, I am going to guess you would not support the fact that if someone does this to me, not only will they be on the hook for their own medical bills but I will sue them for damage to my vehicle and emotional distress - b/c hitting someone with a car (even stupid people) can be very traumatic.

    Stupid should hurt.

    And lastly - apparently you don't pay much attention, b/c I am always railing against distracted driving.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Thu, Sep 5, 2019, at 9:22 AM
  • Usually, I do not give much credence to those "railing about something". There are people in Greencastle who do not care anything about DePauw at all. You seem to fall into that category.

    So, the student didn't follow the rules of the road and did not use the cross walk and someone in a car hit him. I guess you never make mistakes, huh??? When I am driving and someone "jay-walks" I will stop my car and let them cross because I am in control of my vehicle and I don't want to see him/her get hit by a moron who cares little for that person's safety. A human body is no match for a moving car.

    -- Posted by donantonio on Thu, Sep 5, 2019, at 6:11 PM
  • *

    You are right, I don't care about DePauw. While I can see some of the good they do, I can also see the negative effect they have on the community. I am a mostly neutral observer with an overall slightly negative opinion of the college and their students/faculty. I have no problems admitting that.

    You seem to be a DePauw apologist who may rarely and grudgingly admit that there are problems but have an overall favorable opinion of the college.

    So we know where each other stands.

    Its not a simple mistake to jaywalk, its a stupid entitlement mentality that "the pedestrian has the right of way" (which is not true) when ANYONE chooses to dart out into traffic between parked cars when there is a crosswalk not 50 feet away.

    I taught my children very early on to cross at crosswalks and only go when the "green man" appears. Even then they know to look both ways before crossing b/c there are bad drivers out there.

    If they can comprehend the how and the why, I think that adults (college enrolled or otherwise) should be able to do the same.

    You are right, a human body is no match for a car. Which is why there are crosswalks.

    Your comments are all the evidence needed to see that you have comprehension problems (or you are intentionally trying to twist what has been said) and that you like to think of yourself as some arbiter of moral standing and righteousness.

    In other words, you are just another DePauw affiliate perched in your self-perceived ivory tower trying to defend something that has no defense simply b/c DePauw was brought up in the conversation.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Fri, Sep 6, 2019, at 9:04 AM
  • I actually feel sorry for you dreadpirateroberts. You can't be a neutral observer and demonstrate discrimination in the same breath.

    You see I grew up in Putnam county and graduated from Greencastle high school and attended DePauw afterwards. I know first hand the animosity (look it up) between the town and DePauw and vice versa (look that up, too). My life experiences of serving our country in the Army for 9 years, completing a tour of duty over seas and finishing my education and master's degree, and raising my children after my wife died has taught me critical thinking. What have you accomplished with your miserable life?

    It was unfortunate the student was struck. If the SUV couldn't stop in time maybe the driver was going too fast. When I took Driver's Ed in high school we were taught to look ahead and see the bigger picture. If the SUV driver could not see an adult "jay walking" then something was amiss with the driver. That particular area of Washington Street is very narrow especially with semi-tractors and vehicles going in both directions.

    Those who deride DePauw are small thinkers. It could be a symbiotic relationship and for the most part it is until something about DePauw comes up in the conversation.

    If it had been a resident doing what the student did there would not have been the out pouring of negative attitudes.

    But, my comprehension abilities allows me to see the "bigger picture" associated with Greencastle and DePauw. I like both the town and DePauw.

    "In other words, you are just another DePauw affiliate perched in your self-perceived ivory tower trying to defend something that has no defense simply b/c DePauw was brought up in the conversation."--This statement just proves you are a very negative and backwards thinking person with a hint of jealousy.

    This back and forth from a keyboard bully is growing tiresome. Pull your head out of (you know where) and grow up.

    -- Posted by donantonio on Fri, Sep 6, 2019, at 11:31 PM
  • *

    LOL - Don Antonio, you reek of high-mindedness, arrogance, and your own brand of hypocrisy. Is your office space filled with mirrors and post-it notes of how wonderful you are?

    I said I was a MOSTLY neutral observer. (Apparently comprehension IS difficult for you.) I see the good and the bad in DePauw. My neutrality is a bit tilted by my own experiences, but I take that into consideration. In my opinion the bad outweighs the good. That you see it otherwise is simply a difference of opinion. That you feel it necessary to constantly attack me for my opinion shows you for who you are.

    "I feel sorry for you"; two instances of "look it up"; calling my life "miserable" when you know nothing about me; thinking that I am a negative person with a hint of jealousy; and calling me a keyboard bully even though you are the one throwing out all the insults: All this goes to show your arrogance and condescension towards someone you believe yourself to be better than. Its too bad you missed by a country mile.

    I don't feel it necessary to qualify myself, as you have. I have an opinion. You have an opinion. I can respect your insight being a GCSC graduate and a DePauw alum, but according to you, your opinion should carry more weight b/c of a degree? B/c your wife died? B/c you were in the military? In the real world - that and $1 will get you a cup of coffee.

    Now, instead of attacking me, try reading the article - AND MY COMMENTS - again.

    You will see that the guy that was hit RAN (not walked, RAN) between parked cars on the side of the road and RAN between stopped cars going westbound, only to be hit by an eastbound vehicle when he RAN into traffic. He did all of this when there was a crosswalk not fifty feet from him.

    And, as I said previously, I don't care if it is a DePauw student, faculty, an ordinary Greencastle citizen, or the Pope...if you RUN into traffic, ignoring laws and common sense that dictate you use the CROSSWALK that is LESS THAN 50 FEET FROM YOU, then I will have no sympathy for you when you get hit.

    You might want to see about getting a refund on your "letters" b/c your school of higher learning apparently did not do as it should have done in teaching you.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Mon, Sep 9, 2019, at 10:59 AM
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