Officials say a 19-year-old student died on campus grounds Tuesday when a garbage backed over her while she was walking with a friend. At this point, it appears to be a tragic accident.
A distraught mother arrived to the scene late Tuesday afternoon after finding out about the accident.
Investigators said after dumping the second dumpster into the garbage truck by the rear of Lupton Hall, Guillermo Vargas said he began backing up his garbage truck at 11:39 a.m. when he heard someone screaming.
Vargas, 39, of 135 Division Ave., Levittown, looked out his side view mirror and saw a man, identified as Aresh Saqib, on his hands and knees, screaming, and pointing underneath the truck.
Vargas got out of the truck and saw Kaeli Sarah Kramer under the truck. Kramer, 19, of 160 Sweet Hollow Road, Huntington, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Saqib, 21, of 11 4th St., Farmingdale, was transported to Nassau University Medical Center where he is in stable condition with a fractured pelvis and possible internal injuries.
Vargas went to Nassau University Medical Center for emotional distress.
Students passing by seemed shocked and confused, wanting to know who it was and how it could happen in daylight on their quiet campus roads.
"I hope I didn't know them," student Timo Wild said. "I have to call people up to make sure they're okay."
"I saw the helicopter and building blocked off," student Justine Stefanelli said. "It's pretty crazy."
Motor Carrier Safety examined the truck and released the truck to its owner, Jamaica Ash.
Detectives are asking anyone with information on this crash to call the First Squad at 631-854-8152. The investigation is continuing.
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