(KRON) — An Arab Muslim Stanford student was hit by a car on Friday, and California Highway Patrol is investigating the crash as a potential hate crime, according to the Stanford Department of Public Safety. The victim’s injuries are not life-threatening.
The crash happened just before 2 p.m. at Campus Drive and Ayrshire Farm Lane. The driver took off after striking the victim, Stanford DPS said.
The victim described the driver of the vehicle as a white male in his mid-20s, with short dirty-blond hair and a short beard to DPS. The victim says the driver was wearing a gray shirt and round-framed eyeglasses at the time of the incident.
The victim told DPS that the driver made eye contact with them, accelerated to strike them, and yelled “F*** you people,” while driving off.
“This incident is being investigated by the California Highway Patrol, as all injury traffic incidents on campus are. Based on the circumstances reported by the victim, the CHP is investigating the incident as a potential hate crime,” Stanford DPS said.
The suspect vehicle is a black SUV with a tire mounted on the back. Any witnesses are asked to call (650) 779-2700 to reach CHP.
The university’s president, Richard Saller, and provost, Jenny Martinez, released a statement regarding the incident to the Stanford community.
By now you have received an AlertSU message sharing news of a hit-and-run incident that was reported on campus this afternoon, in which an Arab Muslim student was injured. The student is receiving medical care. The California Highway Patrol is investigating this incident as a potential hate crime.
We are profoundly disturbed to hear this report of potentially hate-based physical violence on our campus. Violence on our campus is unacceptable. Hate-based violence is morally reprehensible, and we condemn it in the strongest terms. We want to express our deep concern for the student who was injured, and for all affected by this incident.
The investigation of this incident is ongoing, and more information will be shared as it becomes available. We understand the fear that this incident has caused. We will continue working with law enforcement to provide for the safety and security of everyone in our campus community.
Richard Saller and Jenny Martinez
“Stanford is continuing to work to provide a safe and secure campus environment in the context of heightened tensions related to the events in Israel and Gaza. This includes additional security that has been deployed at key locations on campus,” Stanford DPS said.
