Editor's Note: On April 4, Yu-Chun Liu was hit and knocked to the ground by a Ball State University-owned vehicle as she tried to cross McKinley Avenue behind a shuttle bus, according to police reports.
The following is a letter from Liu.
Dear Editor:
Before explaining the following situation, I want to thank everyone who has helped me during my tough time.
It is a bad memory to recall the accident. My life was changed at that moment, on April 4, when a passing car hit me and interrupted my regular life in America.
On that day, when I got off the shuttle to go home to have lunch, I started to walk across the street. Even after I checked to see that all the cars nearby were stopped, a serious blow struck me. The force of it knocked me down. I do not remember how long I lay on the ground, but I didn't awaken from unconsciousness until my foot began to hurt and questions were asked.
Then a police officer came and asked me lots of questions. The pain made me not want to answer any of the questions, even though I needed to. Because I was alone and hurt, I didn't respond with a clear head. After my friend and an ambulance came, I cried. I had a lot of examinations in emergency room, which made me feel worse because of the pain in my head, in my ribs and in my foot. During the period, a police officer came to see me and said, "You don't have to worry about the payment because it's not your fault."
Later, I threw up two times when I was back at my apartment. This symptom of a concussion forced me to lie in bed for three days. Until the dangerous time for someone with a concussion had passed, eating was a big problem because I couldn't walk.
Even up to this day, my foot has continued to swell and I cannot run; every week, I still need to do physical therapy twice. To confirm the police officer's words to me during our meeting in the ER, my friend went with me to the office of the Ball State director of risk management and insurance benefits. Larry Cistrelli said, "Don't worry about the medical cost, because they will pay."
But, the truth is, they lied to me.
After I decided to take the summer time off to recover and let my foot heal, I got a letter from the university's insurance company on May 14. The letter read, "We must deny any payment surrounding this claim."
How shocking those words were. I do not understand. What mistake did I make by going home to have lunch? What mistake did I make by taking the university shuttle to go home? Moreover, what mistake did I make in walking across the street?
The accident stopped my learning by preventing me from attending class and has caused emotional, physical and financial inconveniences to me. Not only did the university vehicle that hit me inconvenience me, but it physically injured me, too.
As an international student here, getting a complete education in the department of my field is my ultimate goal. However, because of improper passing, a Ball State vehicle struck me -- a pedestrian on a crosswalk -- and totally changed my life and my dreams for the future.
No Ball State staff member will look at me; even now, they refuse to pay the costs. I am really wondering what is the truth in this situation.
Is it too much for me to need and expect justice in this democratic country? Can anyone tell me what I can do?
Can anyone help me?
Yu Chun Liu
Student
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
