On October 29th, at approximately 8:40 p.m., Southern University Police Department Officer Lester Williams was called to investigate a student hit by a car in front of the Southern University Bookstore.
According to witnesses, a member of the Southern University Marching Band was in front of the bookstore finishing a conversation on the driver’s side of a vehicle belonging to Jonathan Bowers, Jr.
Upon completion of the conversation, the victim proceeded to move away from the vehicle but abruptly turned in front of the vehicle and consequently was hit by Bowers.
The victim’s parents, along with Band Director Dr. Issac Greggs responded to the site of the accident shortly after the paramedics arrived on the scene.
“I had just finished talking to him,” said Bowers, who is not a student at Southern. “I was only going one-to-three miles when I hit him.”
According to band member Reuben Johnson, the car hit the victim in the upper leg and knee area.
“It was clearly an accident,” said Johnson. “Neither one really saw each other when he (the victim) crossed.”
The victim was rushed to Baton Rouge General Hospital to undergo examination and further treatment. A representative from SUPD said that an official report should be available by November 3.
