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PROVO — A BYU student was rushed to the hospital in critical condition Wednesday after getting hit by a car just outside the BYU campus boundaries in Provo.
Provo police said the female student, later identified as Lexi Hansen, was riding her longboard while crossing the street in a crosswalk at the intersection of University Parkway and Canyon Road when the accident occurred.
Around 6:20 p.m., a car northbound on University made a right-hand turn, hitting 18-year-old Hansen, police said. Lt. Mathew Siufanua said she and the driver did not see each other as they crossed University Avenue and Canyon Road. Siufanua called it a total accident.
Siufanua said the tragedy is a sad reminder to be more careful on the streets.
"You've got to make sure that the way is clear before you walk onto those crosswalks," he said. "You've got to be paying attention. Having earphones in your ears, or talking, or not looking where you're going can be very dangerous."
No alcohol, drugs or texting were believed to have played part in the crash, police said.
Hansen's Facebook page shows her passion for long boarding. Her family also set up a Facebook page "Pray for Lexi" to update friends and relatives of Hansen's condition. The family released a statement on her condition Thursday afternoon:
"Good news is that there is no additional swelling from last night in the brain. But the next four to seven days are when the most swelling occurs. So we may still lose her. There is some deep brain damage that they don't know what the outcome of that will be if she lives. We are hoping and praying for a miracle."
Hansen is currently a freshmen student at BYU.
