A first-year graduate student in biochemistry died Wednesday night in an accident at Goodwin Avenue and Gregory Drive in Urbana – just three days before her 22nd birthday, University spokeswoman Robin Kaler said.

A 26 Pack Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit Department (MTD) bus struck a pedestrian near the intersection at approximately 6:45 p.m. Sergeant John Brown from the University Police Department said it appeared the bus was taking a right turn onto Gregory Drive from Goodwin Avenue when the accident occurred.

“She was just laying there, she didn’t look like she was moving,” said Sarah Hendrix, freshman in LAS , who was a passenger on the bus. Hendrix said the passenger across from her said he heard a scream.

Erica Chang, freshman in business, was coming out of class when she saw the yellow caution tape on the street.

“I just saw a lot of blood on the street,” Chang said.

Brown said the student was unconscious when the ambulance arrived and that she was seriously injured. By 9:30 p.m., Kaler had confirmed that the victim had died. At press time, the University would not release the victim’s name because her family had not yet been notified.

Bill Volk, a spokesman from MTD at the scene, said the driver has been taken off the route, pending the investigation.

“He’s obviously shook up,” Volk said.

Karl Gnadt, director of marketing and development at MTD, said the MTD had no comment. Brown said the investigation will be “a matter of witness statements and interviewing the driver.”

Clarence Cook, senior in ACES, was at the scene and said the crosswalk at Gregory and Goodwin can be difficult to get through. Cook, who used to live in Allen Hall near the accident scene, said that intersection can be very hectic. The added construction on Gregory Drive, which has diverted pedestrian traffic to the other side of the street, hasn’t helped the situation, Cook said.

“I’ve almost been hit by a couple of buses before,” Cook said. “I wouldn’t say it’s extremely dangerous, but when it’s nighttime and dark out it can be.”