PLYMOUTH- On Thursday, September 1 at approximately 8 pm, two first year female students survived a potentially fatal car accident.
L.A. Deal of Bow, NH an athletic training major and Jill Boisvert, a childhood studies major were walking across from main campus to Lamson Library via the crosswalk on Highland Street when they were hit by an oncoming vehicle.
The driver of the vehicle was 45 year old female and former Plymouth State student; however Plymouth police declined to release the driver’s name.
Deal recalls, “We were walking to Lamson, looked both ways and no cars were coming. We were almost on the other side of the crosswalk. We saw the car, and then it hit us.”
Boisvert was hit by the middle of the vehicle. Deal was hit by the passenger side. Deal stated that the driver hit the gas pedal and did not hit the brakes until making contact with the two girls.
After bring hit, Boisvert was able to stand, however Deal was brought to the ground by the car.
Student witnesses called 911 for the two girls. According to Deal, the driver questioned Boisvert and Deal as to why they would run out in front of her car.
It took Plymouth police 5 minutes to get to the scene. The police took the driver aside while the girls were being put into an ambulance and brought to the hospital.
Boisvert experienced pain in her legs and back. She was told that is she had not been wearing her backpack; she could have died from the accident. Deal suffered from town muscles in her back, and her hips are not in proper alignment. She had to use crutches for the next two weeks.
The victims were unaware that the driver was intoxicated until their families were informed. According to Deal, the driver was two times over the legal blood alcohol content level allowed for operating a vehicle.
The initial court date has been set for September 26, 2005. The driver will be facing charges of attempted homicide with a deadly weapon. It is uncertain at this point as to whether or not the victims will be required to attend the initial hearing.
Plymouth police would not comment on the incident, or identify the driver of the vehicle.