A Virginia Tech student was struck by a car early Sunday morning at an off-campus apartment complex, and Blacksburg police later filed charges against the driver of the car.

             According to witnesses, at approximately 3:15 a.m. a silver Chevrolet Blazer, heading down Chickahominy Road, attempted to turn right onto Laurence Lane when it slid out of control over a curb and struck a pedestrian.

            Witnesses say the pedestrian was part of a group of five people who were examining a parked car at the end of Chickahominy that had been part of a hit and run only minutes before.

            “Just as we gave them the number for the police, we saw it,” said Benjamin Daniels, of the Blazer coming down the road. “We all just got out the way. He was the last one, the farthest left.”

            Blacksburg Police Officer R. Hite said the driver of the vehicle was arrested on site for driving under the influence of alcohol.

            The victim was speaking to paramedics as he was treated, and was taken to Montgomery Regional Hospital.

            “He doesn’t appear to have any life-threatening injuries,” Hite said.

            Witnesses said the Blazer was picking up speed as it came down the hill.

            The vehicle slid off the road, over the curb and into the Pheasant Run Crossing sign, hitting the victim and sliding over him.

            “The reason he turned and slid is because he saw us,” witness Brett Krupinski said.

            Witnesses said the victim was trapped under the vehicle, with his clothing caught on part of the Blazer. They pulled him from underneath the car and wrapped clothing around him to keep him warm.

            “It was probably a good thing his shirt was stuck under the car so he slid with it,” witness Trevor Jackson said.

            With snow falling all day Saturday and into the evening, road conditions have become slick in the New River Valley.

            “It definitely played a factor,” said Hite of the bad driving conditions.

            Daniels said he had seen several accidents in the same spot that night. He and his friends had been sledding in their front yard in Pheasant Run Crossing townhomes when they saw the previous hit and run at approximately 2:45 a.m.