Northwestern student fatally struck by cement truck while riding bike ID'd

EVANSTON, Ill. (WLS) -- A Northwestern University student struck and killed by a cement truck while riding her bicycle on campus was identified Friday.

Chuyuan Qiu, 18, was riding west on Northwestern Place near Sheridan Road when a truck headed north hit her around 5 p.m. Thursday.

First responders found her unresponsive. She was rushed to Evanston Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office said she lived in the 2100-block of Sheridan Road in Evanston.

Police said Qiu was not wearing a helmet. The truck driver, a 38-year-old man from northwest suburban Des Plaines, had not been cited in the crash as of Friday morning.

The crash investigation is ongoing.

There is a growing memorial near where the freshman was hit and killed. Friends said Qiu was an international student from China.

"She was a really pretty girl. She was so friendly," said student Yuying Wong.

"We were just having lunch the day before at Sargent. It was pretty shocking," said student Changfu Sun

"Very say that this kind of tragedy, and so early, to one of our great students," said Licheng Gu, Chinese Students and Scholars Association advisor.

The crash happened on Sheridan Road between Garrett and Library. Police said the truck was headed to a construction site on campus at the time. There are no bike lanes on the stretch of road, but the city said that will change next summer.

"It's very important because that is a very busy section of roadway and we want to make sure it is safe as possible for the user so the motor vehicles. It includes bicyclists and it includes pedestrians," said Mark Muenzer, Evanston community development director.

The crash was also a wakeup call to bike riders on campus.

"Bike safety is something students take for granted. Not a lot of students wear helmets around here. Not everyone uses bike lights at night," said Christina Cilento, student government president.

"For me it is a sign to be more careful on my end and not try to make a light as it is turning red and just be a little more patient and not rushing," said student Leo Galbraith-Paul.

Police said there are no indications the driver was distracted or impaired. No citations have been issued yet, but the investigation is ongoing.