Two UI students struck by car

Two University of Iowa students were struck by a car late Friday night.

Sergeant Denise Brotherton of the Iowa City Police Department confirmed Monday morning that 19-year-olds Brittany Lambert and Christopher Hunter were struck by a car driven by 28-year old Jamie Ellis as they were attempting to cross the non-controlled intersection of Governor Street and College Street.

Neighbors living in the area said last weekend was like “Mardi Gras” with “crazy parties and hundreds of people walking the streets, many with open containers.”

This latest incident is fueling frustration among many residents living south and east of Iowa City who say their neighborhoods are being infiltrated with crowds who have a “mob-like mentality.”

Jerry Baughman, who has lived on South Governor Street for the past five years, said Monday morning that the large groups of roamers could be a walking hazard.

“We have no idea what kind of consciousness they're in, what state they're in,” he said.

Baughman, and other neighbors who wished not to be identified due the fear of facing retaliation by those holding house parties, said they are concerned for their safety.

Residents say the college-aged crowds were using vulgar language, tossing beer cans onto private yards, and urinating on public and private property.

Baughman said he saw young adults – both male and female – urinating out in the middle of the street and off house porches.

Neighbors say those wanderers they spoke to over the weekend told them they were “trolling for house parties.”

Sgt. Brotherton said Iowa City police officers received 45 calls for loud party disturbances.  She said that number is down from 61 during the same weekend in 2009.

City records show police issued 25 disorderly house citations, though that number could fluctuate as reports come in, Sgt. Denise Brotherton said.

Baughman knows he cannot prevent the crowds from walking on public sidewalks.   He, and other neighbors, do not agree that this growing nusiance will be solved by dissolving the city's new minimum bar entry age.  Baughman is just hoping that party crowds will be a little more respectful of those families who live in the neighborhoods they frequent.

“Everybody has to be conscious of each other,”he said.  “That's all we're asking is a neighborhood consciousness that you're actually in a neighborhood.”

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics spokesperson Tom Moore said Hunter is in good condition.  Moore said no information is available for Lambert's condition.

Sgt. Brotherton said preliminary reports found that there was “no alochol” on Ellis's breath.  She said witness reports have suggested that Lambert and Hunter were among a group of friends talking near that intersection, when they split and attempted to cross the road.  Those friends did not indicate what the two students were doing in that area or where they were going.  No word from police if either Lamber or Hunter had been consuming alcohol or had it in their possession at the time of the incident.