Tuesday night, a female student was struck by a car on S. New Street. She was taken by helicopter to Penn Hospital to be treated for two broken legs and a collapsed lung.Samantha Knauss, a resident of McCarthy Hall, was struck on S. New Street by a car going southbound on the street. The accident occurred outside of Sanderson Hall.
The accident occurred at 8:39 p.m. Tuesday night, said West Chester Borough Police. Many residents of the surrounding buildings heard the scream of a female that signaled something was wrong.
“It was the loudest scream I?ve ever heard,” said one onlooker at the scene.
The driver, a 21-year-old male, also a student at the university, stopped at the scene, police said.
The driver is also a member of the Kappa Delta Rho fraternity.
Knauss, 18, was taken to Penn Hospital to be treated for injuries to her head, legs and chest. Her condition throughout the week has improved.
“On Friday, the neurologist told them he is pretty sure Samantha is ?out of the woods? concerning the head trauma,” said Elizabeth Parke after speaking with Knauss? parents.
“She is awake some of the time now and is able to talk a little bit. Samantha has had several surgeries on her legs, but she will need more.
She is now breathing on her own, and the lung is beginning to inflate again. The doctors say Samantha is an extremely strong woman.”
At Thursday night?s Inter- Greek Council meeting, brothers from KDR stood up and talked about collecting money to help with Knauss? medical bills. The Council collected money at the meeting to help out the Knauss family.
“Mr. and Mrs. Knauss want to especially thank Samantha?s friends. They also appreciate all the concern and the prayers from people at WCU. They truly believe prayer is what brought her through,” Parke said.