The Bloomington Police Department has confirmed that a 25-year-old woman was killed after being struck by a vehicle Saturday night near the intersection of South Washington St., and E. Third Street.
“On Saturday, February 8, 2020 at approximately 6:35pm, Officers responded to the intersection of 3rd Street and S. Washington Street, in reference to an accident between a vehicle and a pedestrian,” according to statement from the Bloomington Police Department.
“The investigation revealed that a black 2019 Ford Expedition was southbound on S. Washington Street stopped at the stop light with E. 3rd Street. The driver of the Ford Expedition stated that he was attempting to make a right hand turn onto E. 3rd Street and had looked to his left (eastbound) to make sure that there was no oncoming traffic on E. 3rd Street. The driver then started to make a right hand turn to go westbound on E. 3rd Street when he stated that he ran over something. The driver then pulled his vehicle over on E. 3rd Street and discovered the pedestrian lying in the roadway,” said the BPD.
“The driver was taken to IU Health Bloomington Hospital where a state blood draw kit was performed per State stature. Detectives did not observe any signs of impairment from the driver during their interactions,” said the police.
The woman who died, according to the Bloomington Police Department is Purva Sethi, a 25 year old female. The Mauer School of Law posted a statement Sunday evening that identified Sethi as a third year law student at Indiana University. “She was part of the joint degree program with Jindal University in Sonipat, Haryana, India,” said IU spokesperson Chuck Carney.
“It is with great sadness that I write with tragic news. I have been told that earlier this evening 3L Purva Sethi was struck and killed by a vehicle in downtown Bloomington,” said Austen Parrish, Dean and James H. Rudy Professor at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law.
“We are heartbroken by this tragic event. We are sorry to have to impart it by e-mail, but Purva was beloved by our community, and we wanted to get the word out as quickly as possible,” said Parrish.
An autopsy was to be performed in Terre Haute, according to the BPD, and the investigation is ongoing pending results of toxicology tests.
Indiana University is offering counseling to students.
