URBANA, Ill. (Chambana Today) — A serious traffic crash involving a wrong-way driver left a pedestrian critically injured and a University of Illinois police officer hospitalized early Saturday morning at the intersection of Green Street and Mathews Avenue in Urbana.
Police say the crash occurred at about 2:13 a.m. when a University of Illinois police officer, traveling eastbound on Green Street during routine patrol, was struck by a red Buick Verano that entered the intersection from Mathews Avenue while traveling the wrong direction at a high rate of speed. Mathews Avenue is a southbound one-way street.
The impact caused the Buick to spin out of control and onto the sidewalk at the northeast corner of the intersection. At the time, five people were preparing to enter the crosswalk while walking westbound on Green Street. One of them was struck by the vehicle and suffered life-threatening injuries.
After the crash, the driver of the Buick fled the scene on foot and has not been located, police said.
The injured pedestrian and the officer were transported to a local hospital. The officer was listed in stable condition, while the pedestrian remained in serious condition as of Saturday morning. No names have been released.
The Urbana Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit is leading the investigation with assistance from the University of Illinois Police Department and the Illinois State Police.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Urbana police at 217-384-2320. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling 217-373-TIPS (8477), visiting 373tips.com, or using the P3 Tips mobile app.