EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) – University of Evansville safety officials say three students have been hit by cars over the past month. They say the most problematic area is the intersection of Weinbach Avenue and Walnut Street.
“The risk of pedestrian and vehicle interaction, it’s really high throughout the day here,” said UE Director of Public Safety Kevin Corbin.
In each crash, the student had just minor injuries, but officials know it could have been a lot worse.
“It’s just one of those things where you really want the public in this area that uses this intersection just to keep it in mind, the situation, and slow down and pay attention when they can,” Corbin said.
In each instance, Corbin says the students were using the crosswalk and crossing when they were supposed to. He believes the issue lies with drivers who are turning without checking the crosswalks first.
“When we’re talking a pedestrian vs. vehicle accident, the risk of injury just goes up exponentially compared to a standard accident,” Corbin said.
Corbin says crosswalks in the area are marked in a different color than the pavement to alert drivers of walking traffic. He says the university needs to get the word out about these accidents before someone is seriously injured.
“This is something of an appeal, a request to the public that when coming to this area — and I understand with the traffic infusion around town, this area is getting more traffic than usual — but please just monitor the speeds, monitor the surroundings,” Corbin said.
As a reminder, a pedestrian using a sidewalk has the right of way. Even if you have a green light, and are turning right or left, you still need to yield to pedestrians.
Copyright 2025 WFIE. All rights reserved.
