Man Indicted In Hit-And-Run Of 2 JHU Students
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- There's new information about the man charged in a hit and run that injured two Johns Hopkins students. Weijia Jiang reports the driver has a long list of traffic violations on his record.
Nearly two months have passed since a hit and run accident sent two Johns Hopkins students to the hospital with serious injuries. Now 37-year-old Thomas Green faces a grand jury indictment, charged with nine counts, including drunk driving.
"I think it's great he's being charged. It's a real problem over here. I live just down the street and it's always an issue because the drivers around here tend to be crazy," said Johns Hopkins student Prateik Dalmia.
Sophomore Ben Zucker and freshman Rachel Cohen were trying to cross 33rd Street near St. Paul. It was after 2 a.m., just as bars were letting out.
Tatiahna Rivera is among the many students who saw what happened.
"It was unbelievable somebody could be driving and know what they're doing is wrong and know people are watching. People know it. To hit two harmless kids is just unbelievable," Rivera said.
A search of Maryland court records reveals Green has faced at least eight other traffic violations, three of which were for speeding, most recently on May 31---three weeks after the crash.
The accident adds to the growing list of high profile crashes near the Homewood campus. Earlier this year, a car struck Nathan Krasnopoler while he was riding his bike, leaving him severely brain damaged. In 2009, Hopkins junior Miriam Frankl was killed by a drunk hit and run driver as she tried to cross St. Paul Street.
"Students here, they're apt to jump out into the street whether on bike or on foot. People need to be careful, whether it's pedestrians or drivers," said Johns Hopkins student Andrew Parkinson.
Many we spoke with say the string of accidents has certainly made them more cautious pedestrians. Earlier this year, a survey among Hopkins students found 84% of them feel unsafe crossing the streets around campus.
Green is detained, waiting to face a court commissioner.
