BU student hit by BUPD car near Marsh

A Boston University police car struck a student while possibly making an illegal turn in front of Marsh Chapel last night, according to a witness.

The student, Yeon Lee, was "dashing across" Commonwealth Avenue near the BU Central T stop when the BU Police Department car hit her before she reached the train tracks at 11:15 p.m., according to College of General Studies sophomore Elizabeth Brennan, who witnessed the collision.

Lee, who did not appear to have major injuries, was taken by ambulance to Brigham and Women's Hospital. She was in the emergency room as of early this morning, according to hospital officials.

The car was making a left-hand turn onto Commonwealth Avenue to travel West, Brennan said.

Although she was unsure if the car was traveling toward Commonwealth Avenue from the St. Mary's Street bridge -- a one-way road in the other direction -- or if it was heading inbound and then made a U-turn over the train tracks, both moves are illegal, according to road signs.

Shattered glass from the patrol car's broken taillight lay on the street after the collision.

"[Lee] was looking down for traffic," Brennan said. "She was halfway across the street. [The BUPD car] was making a turn. It seemed to me like he came from nowhere."

Immediately after the incident, the BUPD officer jumped out of his car, and within five minutes, at least four other cars, an ambulance and a fire truck arrived on the scene, Brennan said.

Brennan, who is taking an emergency medical technician class at BU, said she was waiting for an outbound T when she witnessed the collision and rushed to see if she could help Lee.

"Initial assessment of this kind of stuff is second nature," Brennan said. "She was definitely alert. She was able to answer questions. She was also able to move her extremities."

Brennan said the police asked her and other people nearby to help gather Lee's belongings, which were strewn across the street after the collision.

"All her stuff went flying, and her phone shattered into at least five pieces," Brennan said.

BUPD officers also asked Brennan to retrieve Lee's identification cards, she said. Brennan said Lee "looked like an undergraduate student" and had a Massachusetts ID.

BUPD officials declined to comment last night.

Angela Marie Latona and Barbara Rodriguez contributed reporting for this article.