Police Searching For Man Who Punched Female Temple University Student In Face On SEPTA Train
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TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) -- Authorities are searching for a man who punched a female Temple University student in the face on a SEPTA train in Trenton.
Boarding a train for Trenton last Friday, 18-year-old freshman Alicia Wintemberg had family time and homework on her mind. She never imagined some friendly advice to a stranger would land her in the emergency room.
"Around halfway through the train ride, he asks, 'Is this Trenton?'" she said.
Wintemberg says a man seated behind her was looking for information about how soon to get off the train. She gave him a time estimate and reassured him he would know it was time to get off because it was the end of the line.
"And I said this in a very polite tone," said Wintemberg.
She says the man gave her a long stare and when the train stopped at the Trenton station, he came up and punched her in the face.
"He just wailed on me and he hit pretty hard. In the moments after, I really had no idea what was happening," she said. "I just felt a lot of blood, a lot of blood."
Fellow passengers yelled at the man and got paper towels for her eye. NJ Transit Police responded and didn't find the man, but later located surveillance of him hopping a fence as he ran away.
Wintemberg was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where she got seven stitches. She says the injury doesn't appear permanent and she didn't get a concussion, but the emotional trauma may not have fully set in yet.
"Looking back on the situation and looking forward, I want to limit the attacker's effect on my life to just my face," said Wintemberg.
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Right now, she wants the public to help find her attacker so no one else gets hurt.
"Because clearly he's a violent person and not rational," she said.
If you have any information about this incident, you can contact NJ Transit Police at 973-378-6565.