Kristen Cameron, 25, is a graduate student and assistant hockey coach at Mercyhurst College. She was injured when Allen F. Peters, 49, struck her from behind with his 1979 Chevrolet Caprice. Mr. Peters then drove another 300 yards before stopping to assess the damage to his vehicle. He then left the scene of the Erie bicycle accident without offering assistance or providing information. A witness followed him home and watched him park his car behind his house. Mr. Peters was later arrested at his home in Waterford Township.
The damage to the vehicle speaks to the violence of the Erie car crash. The collision shattered the windshield and dented the hood of Mr. Peters’ vehicle. Ms. Cameron was thrown 50 feet from point of impact.
Ms. Cameron was wearing a helmet but nevertheless suffered injury and is in serious condition at Hamot Medical Center. The details of her injuries have not been made public but she has reportedly undergone surgery. Fortunately, friends are relaying that her treatment has gone well and there is a note of optimism about her recovery in reports from the hockey team’s head coach, Michael Sisti, who said, “Everything according to the doctors is going well…It’s such an unfortunate situation that she’s out biking, trying to be fit and healthy, and this accident happened. But she’s in great hands.”
Mr. Peters was arraigned on 14 charges, including aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence.
It seems that Ms. Cameron has lots of support from her friends at colleagues at Mercyhurst and we’re grateful for that. We hope her family is here, too, or will be soon and that she has a full and complete recovery from her injuries.