2 Virginia Tech students hit by car, fellow student charged with DUI
Courtesy: Montgomery Co. Sheriff’s Office
Ryan Wresch
Published: September 8, 2008
Updated Monday September 8th
Wresch is out of jail on a $1,500 unsecured bond.
Mugshot added
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Updated Sunday, September 7th, 11:50 p.m.
By Richmond Times Dispatch
A Virginia Tech student was charged with driving under the influence after he ran off the road in Blacksburg and hit two other Tech students who were walking on a sidewalk, police said.
Ryan William Wresch, 20, also was charged with possession of marijuana after the wreck early Saturday. His blood-alcohol content was 0.16 percent, twice the legal limit, according to Blacksburg police Capt. Kenneth Gay.
Amanda R. Tyus, a 21-year-old Tech senior from Chester, and Kellsye V. Pitsenbarger of Churchville, also 21, were recovering in separate hospitals yesterday. Neither remembers being hit by the car, their parents said. Tyus, a graduate of Thomas Dale High School, suffered head trauma and broke her right leg in two places under her knee and suffered fractures to her jaw and pelvic area, said her father, Joe Tyus.
Tyus and his wife, Billie, were with their daughter yesterday at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke. She had undergone surgery on her leg, her father said, adding that she recognized and spoke to her parents.“I think she’s going to be OK,“ Joe Tyus said. “It’s just going to be kind of a slow progress.“
The wreck happened about 1:40 a.m. in the 1000 block of Progress Street NW, in a residential area near downtown Blacksburg.
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Original story 6:22 a.m., Saturday September 6th
Blacksburg Police say two young women are seriously hurt, after a DUI driver hit them early in the morning Saturday.
Officers tell us around 1:40 a.m., a 2001 Honda Civic was speeding east on Progress Street. The car ran off the right side of the road, onto the sidewalk, then hit 21-year-old Kellsye Pitsenbarger and 21-year-old Amanda Tyus
Investigators say the impact knocked Pitsenbarger into the road, and threw Tyus onto the hood then windshield of the car.
Police tell us Tyus remained on the windshield of the car, as the car drove through the front yard of a home on Progress Street, crashed through a chain-link fence, and smashed into a tree in the yard of another home.
Blacksburg Rescue Squad crews took both Pitsenbarger and Tyus to Montgomery Regional Hospital. Tyus then had to be taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, after suffering a more serious head injury than Pitsenbarger.
Officers arrested 20-year-old Ryan Wresch, and charged Wresch with DUI and possession of marijuana.
Police shut down Progress Street from Winston Avenue to Watson Avenue for about five hours to investigate the crash.
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Reader Reactions
I agree with (lcoderre) to a point. I agree that these students have been through an awful lot but so have parents friends and other relatives of those that were killed. But does that give everyone of those people the right to go out get delibertly drunk and then choose to drive and hit two inicint bystanders, just because he/she may or may not have dealt with what happened? My heart goes out to each and every family that was touched by the tragedy and now to the two students who were hit by this drunk driver. And yes my heart goes out to the young man who was behind the wheel. However he needs to take responsiblity for his actions. He is very lucky that he did not kill these two students. Like the old saying goes. “You do the crime you need to do the time.“ Why should our legal system take “pity” on someone who knew better than to drink and drive? I am not from the Virginia area I in fact live in Wisconsin so I don’t know what the legal age to drink is down there, but up here it is 21. So if Virginia is the same, then not only did this person break the law by drinking and driving, but he also may have broken the law by being underage. So if that is the case, I hope that he gets the approiate sentence. Because maybe just maybe he will learn from this experience and know better next time he decides to drink to call and have someone who is not drinking and pick him up. The families of these two students could have been spared the heartache of hearing that they were hit by a drunk driver if the driver would of thought with his head. The two students and their families are in my families prayers.
I agree with (Icoderre)to a point. Yes all three of these students are from Virginia Tech. Yes they have been through an awful lot in the last year. And yes I’m sure that alot of the students are dealing with PTSD yet, however that is where I stop agreeing. Let me ask you this. Is it all right for the driver to be driving drunk just because of what happened? I don’t think so. Here’s a serino for you. My aunt was killed in a very horriffic car accident 4 years ago. When it first happened I was not wanting to deal with it, However I did not go out and get dilibertly drunk and then turn around and drive and hit 2 other people. It’s like your saying that the public and legal system is suppose to ignore what this student did just because of what happened. If that was the case, do you realize how many people would get off from their different “crimes” just because they are not wanting to deal with what happened. Wake up and smell the roses. When you do the crime you need to face up and play the cards that you are dealt with.
These are Virginia Tech students. The driver goes to Virginia Tech? I hope that they take into consideration all that these kids have been through. Has anyone noticed that lately there have been some incidents with Virginia Tech Students? Is this delayed PTSD? I hope that any of the Tech students are dealt with in a compassionate and understanding manner.
Amanda’s last name is actually Tyus with no R. Please everyone keep both of them in your prayers.
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