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NEWS
Local artist in hospital after vehicle hits his wheelchair
A crumpled motorized wheelchair is lodged beneath a Chevy Tahoe after striking the occupant on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008, at the corner of 8th Street and 9th Avenue.
HUNTINGTON -- A local artist who was severely injured when his wheelchair was struck by a vehicle in Huntington Wednesday morning was reported to be stable and in fair condition Wednesday afternoon, according to staff at St. Mary's Medical Center.
Huntington Police said Christopher Worth was struck by a vehicle as the driver was turning left onto 9th Avenue in front of Speedway on 8th Street.
Worth was crossing 9th Avenue at an unmarked crosswalk on 8th Street when he was struck by an SUV turning left onto 9th Avenue, said Cpl. Eddie Bradshaw of the Huntington Police Department.
Worth was transported to St. Mary's Medical Center just after 9 a.m. He appeared to have suffered head trauma and serious injuries, Bradshaw said.
Huntington Police Department Capt. Mike Albers said the driver of the SUV failed to yield, but speed was not determined to be a factor in the accident. He said the driver did not see Worth crossing.
Albers said police are continuing to investigate and will decide whether any charges will be filed.
Cabell County Emergency Medical Services, the Huntington Police Department, and Huntington Fire Department responded to the accident.
News of the accident touched many in the Marshall artist community who know Worth from his long time with the university.
"He's appreciated as an artist. He's appreciated as a character because he is a wonderful character," said Don Van Horn, dean of the College of Fine Arts at Marshall.
Van Horn said everyone in the college who knows Worth, and he said that's a lot of people, were saddened on Wednesday.
"We are very worried about him and thinking about him. He's been a significant part of this university community for a number of years -- starting out years ago as an undergraduate student, then as a graduate student, and even now as he's finished his degree studies. He's still on campus on a regular basis and he's a part of our life here at the university. We're very concerned for his well-being," Van Horn said.
