Man struck by car near DRL

The 85-year-old vuctun was taken to HUP and is expected to recover. He has been auditing one class at Penn. An 85-year-old man studying at the University was injured yesterday after being hit by a car near the David Rittenhouse Laboratory on 33rd Street, continuing a semester marred by a series of traffic-related accidents. Police said the man, who has not been identified, was struck at around 11:55 a.m. while attempting to cross 33rd Street between Walnut and Spruce streets. He was transported to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania minutes later. The victim sustained injuries to the right side of his forehead and on his left hand but is expected to make a full recovery. "He's been admitted for overnight observation," HUP spokesperson Rebecca Harmon said. "It's just a conservative approach that lets us take care of him and observe him." University spokesperson Ken Wildes said the victim is auditing a course at Penn this semester. "He had some lacerations to the head but he is awake and talking," Wildes said. According to police officials, the man was crossing 33rd Street at a crosswalk between the tennis courts near the Palestra and Smith Walk. A woman unaffiliated with the University was driving in the left lane when she clipped the victim. Traffic in the right lane was stopped just prior to the accident. Police said the driver stopped immediately at the scene. Yesterday's incident is just the latest in a semester that has already seen several traffic-related accidents, including two deaths last month of individuals struck while riding their bicycles on campus. On October 8, 70-year-old Benjamin Tencer was struck by a car while riding his bicycle near the corner of 34th and Walnut streets. Tencer, a Philadelphia resident who was taking classes at Penn as part of a special program for senior citizens, died three days later as a result of massive head injuries sustained in the accident. And on October 19, Wharton freshman Michael Yang was killed after the bicycle he was riding collided with a large truck at the intersection of 33rd and Spruce streets. The incidents have brought bicycle safety to the forefront of campus debate. As part of an initiative known as the Philadelphia Bicycle Network, city officials have drafted plans for bicycle lanes or "bicycle-friendly" areas on major campus thoroughfares, including Chestnut, Walnut and Spruce streets. The project, planned before the recent deaths, is expected to be completed by the next academic year. Chestnut and Walnut, which are both state highways, are also expected to be resurfaced from the 3400 block to the 3800 block by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. And in response to the recent events on campus streets, University President Judith Rodin announced on Wednesday the formation of a working group to examine the issues of bicycle and pedestrian safety at Penn. Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs Carol Scheman and Vice President for Public Safety Tom Seamon are the co-chairpersons of the 11-person committee.

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