Community members reported a sighting of a MedFlight helicopter on the club sports field on Wednesday, March 22 around noon, according to photos obtained by The Hoot. Matthew T. Rushton, Chief of Public Safety, followed up with community members on the situation via email and explained that it was for an emergency situation in the greater Waltham area. 

“This activity was due to an accident involving a pedestrian in the Prospect Hill area, who we do not believe to be a Brandeis community member,” Rushton explained.

A pedestrian was struck by a motor vehicle around 11:30 a.m. near the intersection between Prospect Hill Road and Columbus Avenue, according to an article. The pedestrian is reportedly a middle-aged man, per the article, and he was struck by a van on Prospect Hill Road. The victim is being treated for serious injuries, according to the article, after having suffered from major chest trauma. The helicopter spotted on the club field was used to transport the victim to a nearby medical facility. 

Rushton explained to community members that the university’s athletics fields are a “preferred landing site for emergency MedFlight helicopters.” Whenever there is a need for emergency vehicles to respond to situations in the Waltham area, they are permitted to land on the club field, Rushton wrote. “We are glad that we can provide this service to our neighbors, and our thoughts and prayers are with the injured individual,” Rushton wrote to community members in his email. 

It is unknown at the time of publication whether the pedestrian was in the crosswalk when they were struck, according to the article. At this time, according to Rushton’s email, they do not believe the pedestrian was a Brandeis community member. Rushton addressed that the several news helicopters circling over campus were also linked to this incident.