Students hit by a van off-campus

Two male students expected to make a full recovery

Sophie MattsonTHE SANTA CLARAJanuary 28, 2016[dropcap]T[/dropcap]wo male Santa Clara students are expected to make a full recovery after being hit by a van across the street from campus last night.The accident occurred at approximately 8:51 p.m. near the intersection of Lafayette Street and Lexington Street after the students left a sorority philanthropy event held in the gym of the St. Clare School.“It was an absolute freak accident,” said sophomore Tito Rios, a friend of the students who witnessed the accident. “The two were walking across the street and were totally blindsided by the van. All I was really able to process was the chaos and the fact that all of us needed to get to the hospital as soon as possible. It turned what was supposed to be a great night into a terrible one.”  The students were transported by ambulance to Valley Medical Center, where their families soon joined them.  “One student has already returned home and the other student is expected to have a full recovery as well,” said Matthew Duncan, associate dean for Student Life.The van that hit the students was traveling at about 30 to 35 miles per hour, according to Phil Beltran, director of Campus Safety.“There will be an official police report coming out as to who was at fault and what were the contributing factors to the accident,” Beltran said.Contact Sophie Mattson at smattson@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4849. Follow her on Twitter @MattsonSophie.