Individuals ID’d in car vs. pedestrian accident
By Patrick Lynn
Police say it was 57-year-old Harrison K. Helfand who was struck by a passing motorist after he ran into traffic on Nov. 5.
Helfand, of Stevens Point, was flown to a trauma center in Marshfield last Monday night after being struck by a motorist near the CN underpass at the intersection of Monroe and Church streets. He was reportedly running east in the crosswalk when he was struck at 5:37 p.m.
The driver has been identified as Michael L. Smith, 50, also of Stevens Point. According to Assistant Police Chief Tom Zenner, Smith had a green light as he was traveling north on Bus. 51.
Helfand was rushed by an SPFD ambulance to the Stevens Point Municipal Airport, where Zenner said a Life Link Air Ambulance transported the man to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he remains hospitalized.
Zenner said police do not believe the driver was intoxicated at the time of the accident.
“The State Patrol is still investigating, but there were likely several factors; it was dark, it was rainy, and there’s a bit of a curve there,” Zenner said, adding Smith and his 56-year-old male passenger were unharmed.
Zenner said the Wisconsin State Patrol was still working on reconstructing the crime scene.