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Sept. 23, 2003
Blair junior hit by SUV
A Blair junior was airlifted to Suburban Hospital after being struck by an SUV on the morning of September 23. The student, Bezawit Bayou, was leaving school following a power outage that closed Blair.
Bayou was in stable condition as of 5 PM on Tuesday, September 23, with her injuries not considered to be life-threatening.
Dorothy McCollum, Assistant Principal of Oakland Terrace Elementary School in Silver Spring, witnessed the accident. According to McCollum, Bayou had just gotten off a bus and was proceeding to cross the street, but did not look at the correct side of traffic before crossing. McCollum also said that Bayou was not at a crosswalk.
Bayou was hit by a Toyota RAV4 SUV after running into the street. McCollum said that Bayou "drifted in and out of consciousness" before being airlifted away from the scene approximately seven minutes later.
Principal Phillip Gainous passed by the accident on his way to school and said he saw several students playing in the traffic. "They would jump out into the street and see how close the cars would come to them," he said. "That is insane."
Gainous urged students to use caution when crossing the busy roads near Blair. "Students should use crosswalks and look both ways before crossing the street," he said.
Bayou was hit at the intersection of University Boulevard and Glenville Road. The incident caused major traffic problems, as University Boulevard was closed on both sides.
Reporting by Chris Mulligan and Terry Li
Bayou was in stable condition as of 5 PM on Tuesday, September 23, with her injuries not considered to be life-threatening.
Dorothy McCollum, Assistant Principal of Oakland Terrace Elementary School in Silver Spring, witnessed the accident. According to McCollum, Bayou had just gotten off a bus and was proceeding to cross the street, but did not look at the correct side of traffic before crossing. McCollum also said that Bayou was not at a crosswalk.
Bayou was hit by a Toyota RAV4 SUV after running into the street. McCollum said that Bayou "drifted in and out of consciousness" before being airlifted away from the scene approximately seven minutes later.
Principal Phillip Gainous passed by the accident on his way to school and said he saw several students playing in the traffic. "They would jump out into the street and see how close the cars would come to them," he said. "That is insane."
Gainous urged students to use caution when crossing the busy roads near Blair. "Students should use crosswalks and look both ways before crossing the street," he said.
Bayou was hit at the intersection of University Boulevard and Glenville Road. The incident caused major traffic problems, as University Boulevard was closed on both sides.
Reporting by Chris Mulligan and Terry Li
Discuss this Article
As for the complete idiots that were playing in traffic and testing limits on cars, that is asinine. Those people really need to talk to Charles Darwin.
The crosswalks are there for a *reason*, people.
However, it is an upsetting thing, and I hope she recovers soon.
I agree that it's very stupid to be playing in traffic, however, it doesn't seem to me that that's what Bezawit was doing at the time. It was a mistake not to use a crosswalk, but as far as I can understand from the article, she was just trying to get home after the power outage. This brings up the issue of why she was at the school in the first place even though it ended up closed: because someone messed up and opened schools without being certain they were able to be.
I have to say I'm a bit disappointed that the article seems to skip over that fact. It also seems to include several quotes and observations implying that Bezawit was being particularly irresponsible (mentioning playing in traffic), which is quite a shame. Take this article with a grain of salt: She didn't have to be at school this morning, and this accident didn't have to happen.
Get well! Good luck with a speedy recovery, and I hope I can see you soon.
Get well soon Bezawit!
But you know what? I still do it, who doesn't?
Next time, don't jaywalk!
good job getting the story up fast, but it prob would've been better if you'd put up a brief, waited longer and gottne more on the story. i'm sure you could've found someone else to talk to and maybe some more quotes. sorry, no offense meant
a diffeent anonymous is really right, no offnese, but why did you put there were traffic problems? someones life is way more important
This tragedy reminds everyone at Blair how dangerous the Four Corners area is for pedestrians. Always use precaution when crossing streets near school- Please!!!
~MAY GOD BLESS YOU~
I don't feel the accident was her fault exactly and until she's in any shape to comment on the event, I don't think we can really judge one way or the other.
How stupid can you get?
It's werid how hearing about someone eles bad luck can make your day seem alot better.
have asked the junior if she wanted to have
an article about what happened. It isn't
anybody's fault but the person involved
And i hope you're alright Bayou.:)
In the behalf of my family I beg you to take out this article from the website or Silver Chips newspaper.
The Reasons are:
1) You did not consulte our family.
2) It it Bezawit's right whether it should be a media scandle or joke as your report indicate to me.
3) IT's not an Entertainment to experience a person get hit by a car.
4) It also does not concern anybody (that is not her family or dear firends).
5) The most important thing is you are not helping her or my family by publishing this traumatic event.
I hope you're mature enough to understand all this.
I also hope you take out this article as soon as possible.
For those of you who helped as through this sad event I want to Thank You and your sympathy.
ThankYou
Bezawit's sister.
The article never mentions the driver's speed at the time of the accident, so it seems unfair to assume that they were speeding.
We did not take this story lightly. While Silver Chips does try to be sensitive to the student body, we feel that it is our duty to inform the Blair community. All quotes were included to describe the incident as clearly as possible as well as to stress the importance of safety.
In recent years, several Blair students have been hit by cars. We’ve posted articles about such events in the past with the intention of making it clear to the student population that crossing the roads near Blair is dangerous and should be done with caution. We are in no way insinuating that Bezawit was at fault in this case, we simply reported what was seen by the eyewitness.
We are sorry for the suffering Bezawit's family has had to endure and we hope Bezawit’s recovery is quick and complete.
I would just like to say how dare those of u who commented on how well the article was written. How low can u get. I f u wanted to thank the author or comment on the article u should have commented it to him insread of writing it down in here as if this is a plcae to critic the article as if it were a good story. This is serious. I knew Beza and for u to to just comment on the way the article was writen is somewhat offending. This article should not have even been publicated due to the fact that there was no conscent by the victim and family members. As for u Chris Muller what the hell were u thinking publishing without concent, you should have it removed if people want to know more than they should contact the family members of th e victim.
When you're hit by a car while walking home from school, no one needs to get your permission to publish an article
have u ever heard of the bill of rights?
#1 = Freedom of PRESS
if you dont like it, go back to russia
Also, isn't the article written by the online editors? Chris isn't in the byline...
Take an example, just because you knew President Clinton and supported him (just an example) doesn't mean you have the right against all the news publication on the Monica Lewinsky case. News are to be made to the public and it shouldn't be stopped. We should be thankful we have free speech in our country.
Please reconsider.
Now, I think that while Silver Chips certainly had the right legally to publish this, a matter of taste and tact is involved. A high school newspaper is supposed to serve the high school community. How is this serving the community if Bezawit's own family is demanding that this article be removed? Please, Silver Chips, use your hearts. This is not the Washington Post, I'm sure you can make alowances for the feelings of those involved