Cornell officer charged after crashing into Ithaca College student

A Cornell University police officer was charged with vehicular assault after striking a 19-year-old Ithaca College student with his vehicle while off duty, leaving the student with “serious injuries” according to New York State Police.

Shortly after 1:30 a.m. on May 4, state police were dispatched to the 1500 block of Slaterville Road after receiving reports of a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle.

The pedestrian was transported by LifeFlight to the Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, Pa., with serious injuries.

The operator of the vehicle, Blake A. Curtis, 30, of Ithaca, was arrested at the scene and has been charged with vehicular assault, a class E felony, and the misdemeanor of Driving While Intoxicated.

Lindsey Knewstub, deputy director for Cornell Media Relations, confirmed Tuesday in an email sent to the Ithaca Journal that Curtis is a Cornell University Police officer.

Curtis was off duty when the incident occurred and has since been placed on administrative leave, she said.

State police investigation revealed that the 19-year-old pedestrian is an Ithaca College student who was walking near Slaterville Road when he was struck by the vehicle that was traveling eastbound.

The driver of the vehicle immediately called 911.

This article originally appeared on Ithaca Journal: Cornell officer charged after crashing into Ithaca College student