Funeral for student set to occur Friday

The visitation for an Eastern student, 21, who was hit by a driver while crossing the street in her hometown of Bloomington, is talking place today.

Eastern senior Lauren Leffler’s visitation will take place today from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Carmody-Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home, at 1800 Eastland Drive in Bloomington.

The funeral is taking place at 10 a.m. on Friday at the Eastern View Christian Church, at 1500 North Airport Road in Normal.

Leffler and her friend Nicholas Jefferson were crossing the street when they were allegedly hit by Katie Lawson, who allegedly fled the scene shortly after.

Leffler and Jefferson were both taken to Advocate BroMen Medical Center—Leffler was pronounced brain dead at 1:25 p.m. Sunday while Jefferson was released shortly after.

McLean County Coroner Beth Kimmerling completed Leffler’s autopsy Tuesday and said preliminary findings pointed to severe head injuries being the cause of her death.

The report was consistant with that of a pedestrian being struck by an automobile, Kimmerling said.

Kimmerling said Leffler and Jefferson were reportedly leaving Elroys when they were hit by a car.

Leffler’s family opted to donate her organs, she said.

The coroner’s office has ordered toxicology tests and Lawson’s arraignment is scheduled for July 6. Lawson’s bond was set at $250,000 by Associate Judge Bill Yoder.

Leffler was scheduled to graduate with a major in family and consumer sciences with a concentration in dietetics on Dec. 15, 2012.

The case is still under investigation.

Nike Ogunbodede can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].