Student killed in traffic accident identified
The KU community is mourning the loss of a promising student. Enlarge video
The Kansas University student who died over the weekend after being struck by a pickup truck has been identified as Dimitri Mavridorakis, 23, a graduate student from Saint-Étienne, France.
Mavridorakis was helping a friend with car trouble along Shawnee Mission Parkway in Merriam when a Dodge Dakota drove up from behind and hit him.
Mavridorakis was working on a Master of Business Administration and was attending KU on a scholarship exchange program. He was one of 80 in his class, and those who knew him said they would miss his sense of humor and intellect.
“Because we are such a close-knit, small program … we do feel like we are part of a family,” said Nick Arthachinda, a friend and president of the Graduate Business Council. “Losing Dimitri is more than just one fewer person in the class.”
Mavridorakis’ family will arrive later in the week and the KU School of Business is planning a memorial service around the visit.
KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway said in a press release: “On behalf of the entire university community, I offer deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Dimitri Mavridorakis. Our hearts go out to them at this time.”
Steven Cummins, a 25-year-old Shawnee man, was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and driving under the influence shortly after the incident. Cummins is being held in Johnson County Adult Detention Center on a $250,000 bond.
Comments
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spankyandcranky (anonymous) says…
So sad. Unfortunately these kind of things seem to happen pretty frequently around here. I try not to drive on weekend evenings because of the excessive amount of drunk drivers on the road.
1029 (anonymous) says…
If Merriam is anything like Lawrence, then Cummins made a huge mistake in not fleeing the scene and waiting until the next day to turn himself in. Now, instead of a gentle slap on the wrist, a small fine, and a few months of diversion, he might actually have to pay serious consequences for his crime. People, if you are drunk and happen to hit and kill someone while driving in Lawrence, drive away as fast as possible. Go home, get some sleep and sober up, eat a good breakfast, put on some nice clothes, and turn yourself in when you are ready to. It will be so much better for you this way.
igby (anonymous) says…
Why the heck does Branson still have a job, its one of the 7 wonders of the world. I think he paid off the Republican chairman so that no one would run against him in November's election.Notice how the chairman ups and quits right after the election!I think he got paid off.
srj (anonymous) says…
When is the last time someone in Douglas County got charged with "involuntary manslaughter"? If you drink and drive and kill someone, you should get locked up for 3-5 years.
hilary (anonymous) says…
Don't forget about texting when driving, and killing an innocent biker is totally legal.Thoughts go out to Dimitri's family and friends.
akbarnes (anonymous) says…
In regards to the comment left by 1029,
How dare you suggest something like that? Dimitri was my boyfriend's best friend and an amazing person. How would you feel if someone you loved or knew was killed by a drunk driver and that person drove away to sober up for a reduced sentence? I applaud Cummins for staying at the scene and taking it like a man even if he was drunk. Cummins will get the punishment he deserves for taking an innocent life.
Maybe next time you post something like this you will think about if the family and friends if someone that died read these articles and you will take that into consideration. Or maybe even think about if it were your loved one who was killed and how you would feel reading something like this.
A person that commits a hit and run is a coward without a soul.