One of the victims hit by an alleged drunk driver near the University of Houston has died from his injuries, according to multiple sources.
UH student Mark Tartaglio died over the weekend after being hospitalized in the auto-pedestrian crash that occurred around midnight Thursday on Calhoun at North McGregor.
Friends say the other victim, Corina Burnett, also a UH student, is in stable condition.
Marshall Patrick Schoen was arrested in the incident. Police believe Schoen was speeding in a large pickup truck when he went into the opposing lanes of traffic to get around an Infiniti car that was making a turn.
The truck clipped the front of the car and then struck two people walking nearby. Tartaglio and Burnett were taken to the hospital.
Burnett is a member of the Chi Omega sorority, which has a house within UH's Bayou Oaks.
Tartaglio was a member of Kappa Alpha. The fraternity house is located off campus.
Friends said the couple had just returned to Bayou Oaks after a sorority "date night" event when they were hit.
“I literally just took a picture of them three hours ago, before they left for their date party,” said friend Tala Odat. “It was just really surreal."
“We were actually sitting in one of the sorority houses watching a movie, and we heard it and we walked out and we saw a body being put on a stretcher and blood all over the sidewalk,” said freshman resident James Townsend.
Police said Schoen was dressed in blue medical scrubs at the time, possibly for a costume party.
The 23-year-old UH student was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
His bond is set at $30,000.
The driver of the Infiniti was not hurt and is not facing any charges for the incident, police said.
Friends created a GoFundMe page for the victims. On the page, friends described the couple as "some of the kindest, most caring people you'll ever meet."
"My hope is that the Greek community will be able to come together and support each other," said Chris Scott, who is a grief counselor of the University of Houston.
He said staff are now on standby, "basically to kind of help them cope over the next few days as finals are approaching."
The University of Houston released the following statement:
"The University of Houston community is coping with a tragedy today. A UH student is fighting for his life following an overnight accident outside of Bayou Oaks apartments.
Two students on the sidewalk were struck by a car in the accident and transported to the hospital, with one of the students suffering life-threatening injuries.
The University is closely monitoring the conditions of the injured. We are praying for their recovery and our hearts go out to their families and friends.UH Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), located in the Student Service Building 1, is available to students until 5 p.m. this evening and can be reached by calling (713) 743-5454.
The Houston Police Department is actively investigating this case."
Photos: Double autoped near UH
