Reports conflicting about accident

Alex Fitzjarrald, a senior geology major from Tuscola, jumped in front of traffic around 11 p.m. Saturday and was hit by two cars on Lincoln Avenue.

A Toyota truck, driven by Jason Wishard, and a Mercury Mystique GS, driven by Ashley Evans, hit him.

Wishard was the first to hit Fitzjarrald.

After he was hit, the victim asked Wishard for a gun, so he could shoot himself, according to the police report.

Fitzjarrald ran from the scene after being hit by Wishard’s truck before police arrived at the scene, and then he ran head first in front of Evans’ car, getting struck again.

The report said the second collision tossed Fitzjarrald into the air and onto the curb.

Fitzjarrald was then transported to Sarah Bush Lincoln Heath Center and later life-lined to Carle Foundation Hospital in Champaign.

There was no sign that the victim was intoxicated during the incident.

“He wasn’t driving, so there was no legal basis for forcing a blood urine test,” Charleston Police Chief Bryan Baker said.

Mary Jo Fitzjarrald, Alex’s mother, said he had no drugs or alcohol in his system at the time.

The report called Fitzjarrald a suicidal pedestrian.

Mary Jo said her son had no memory of what happened that night, and the police reports stating he was suicidal were wrong.

She said he has no history of depression or being on prescription medication.

“He’s home,” she said. “He’s doing fine and he’s going to be OK.”

Fitzjarrald suffered a fractured skull, broken nose, bruised shoulders and a fractured pelvis from the accident.

Heather Holm can be reached at 581-7942 or [email protected].