Freshman Ariel Marc Nassau Besprosvany, 20, was hit by a car at 12:41 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, while he was trying to cross South Plymouth Avenue near Brooks Landing. Another student, senior Mujtaba Syed, 20, was behind the wheel of the car that struck Nassau.
As of Tuesday, Oct. 27, Nassau was recuperating in the Intensive Care Unit, and the UR Medical Center Communications Office listed him as being in ‘guarded condition.”
‘My staff has been assisting both Ariel’s family and the family of Mujtaba Syed,” Dean of Students Matthew Burns said. ‘When critical situations like this happen, University offices pull together.”
Burns said that many offices on the River Campus, including Residential Life, Student Activities and International Services Office have assisted Nassau and his family. Currently, the College Dean of Students Office and Security Services are doing the majority of follow-up work.
A native of Mexico, Nassau is being treated at Strong Memorial Hospital. His parents and brother have traveled to Rochester to be with him.
Syed has been charged with driving while intoxicated and speeding. These charges were confirmed by the Rochester Police Department Wednesday night.
‘Students involved in incidents such as this would normally face charges in our own disciplinary system as well as in court,” Burns said. ‘Repercussions would depend upon the recommendations of a hearing team, as with any other case. I would describe this incident as very serious.”
According to Director of UR Security Walter Mauldin, a security officer who was patrolling the Staybridge Suites parking lot from a few hundred yards away from the scene heard sounds of an accident and headed to the site. The officer also radioed a request for emergency contacted 9-1-1 less than a minute after the officer reported the accident.
Overall, four officers responded from the Riverview/Brooks Landing area and the River Campus. Traffic lanes were then blocked off to protect the area as the injured pedestrian was monitored. Rochester Police arrived on the scene at 12:46 a.m., and the Rochester Fire Department and Rural-Metro ambulance followed immediately after.
‘Traffic accidents involving serious physical injury are not frequent on or near our campuses, but they do occur,” Mauldin said. ‘Security responds immediately and provides information to 9-1-1 as soon as possible. Updates are provided to convey details about the situation so appropriate and additional emergency crews can be sent, if needed.”
Fellow Mexico City native and UR senior Christopher Aguilar, has started a blog written in English and Spanish for Nassaus’ friends and family to stay updated on his medical state. Aguilar also collects messages posted from Syed’s friends and reads them to Nassau. The link for the blog is www.amigoariel.blogspot.com.
‘It blows me away how many people from all over the world care so much about him, and it makes me very happy to see him react in such a good way to positive messages and energy from his friends,” Aguilar said.
Barbosu is a member of the class of 2010
