Pedestrian struck by driver near UNR

Reno Police charged 21-year-old Brian Tschirhart with driving under the influence (DUI) after he reportedly struck one of three pedestrians crossing N. Virginia Street near 16th Street at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 24.

The RGJ stated that Tschirhart didn’t immediately realize that he struck someone, but cooperated with police after pulling over. The pedestrian, another 21-year-old male, reportedly suffered minor injuries. He and the other two pedestrians were also allegedly intoxicated during the incident.

Reports from multiple news sources indicate police cited all three pedestrians for violating NRS 484B.297. This statute prohibits pedestrians from crossing the street in unsafe manners and being on the roadway while intoxicated.

Tschirhart has studied at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). It is unclear whether he is currently enrolled. The three pedestrians were not identified in news reports, and it is unclear whether they have ties to the university.

We have reached out to UNR officials to verify whether the driver is an enrolled student. We will update this story once we receive a response.

About Sierra Batrin

Sierra Batrin is a 20-year-old junior at the University of Nevada, Reno. Batrin is originally from Laughlin, Nevada, where she was second in her class (out of 40 students) and finished with a 4.5 GPA. While she exceeds in math, Batrin found her passion and interest in journalism and industry where she can create an opportunity for everyone to have a voice.

In her free time, Batrin loves spending time with her dog and going down to the lake. She looks forward to graduating with her degree in Journalism and minor Spanish in Spring 2021.