Student dies after crash at University of Illinois

URBANA, Ill. — A 20-year-old University of Illinois student died after a truck struck her and another woman as they walked on campus, according to authorities and a school spokeswoman.

Mimi Liu of Chicago died Wednesday at a hospital in Urbana, Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup said.

Liu and 20-year-old Spandana Mantravadi were struck while walking on campus Wednesday morning, according to Urbana police. The truck left the road several times, drove across a sidewalk, struck street signs and sideswiped another vehicle before hitting the two women.

Spandana Mantravadi was hospitalized with injuries that weren’t considered life-threatening.

Willie Craft Sr., who is 58, was cited for driving without insurance and improper lane usage, according to police.

Liu was a junior studying in the school’s College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, university spokeswoman Robin Kaler said.

Liu is the second university student to die in the past two weeks.

Mengchen Huang was stabbed to death in her Urbana apartment on Sept. 27. A former boyfriend is charged with murder in her death.

“Very sad couple of weeks here,” Kaler said.