A 21-year-old Kansas State student is in critical condition after she was struck by a pickup truck on April 14. Family and friends are offering a $10,000 cash reward for anyone who offers information that leads to identifying the person responsible for the injury.
Amber Wilhelm, senior in hospitality management, was found suffering from severe injuries after she was drug or thrown approximately 120 feet from impact at 12th Street and Bluemont Avenue at approximately 1:55 a.m. on April 14, according to a release by the Riley County Police Department.
The department is investigating and in the process of interviewing witnesses and collecting video surveillance.
Witnesses described the truck that fled the scene by heading westbound on Anderson Avenue as light in color and a Chevrolet or GMC extended cab from 2011-16. Based off interviews with witnesses, officers believe there may only be slight damage to the front end of the vehicle.
Wilhelm was transported to Via Cristi and then life-flighted to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka for her injuries, where she remains in critical condition as of about 3 p.m. Tuesday.
According to statements from Wilhelm’s mom Donna Wilhelm and dad Darryl Wilhelm, she is connected to machines keeping her alive.
“I received a phone call at 2:30 that morning,” Donna said, “and that is one of a parent’s worst nightmares to have to answer that phone call, knowing that your child has probably been in an accident and having to drive to a hospital, and the first thing you see is your child is lying in a hospital bed hooked up to a ventilator, keeping her alive.”
The family has started a GoFundMe page with a goal of raising $10,000 to reward those with information that leads to the person responsible for the hit-and-run accident. The reward is valid until July 18.
“We are needing your help to find this person that has done this,” Donna said. “If you are this person, please come forward. We just want to put the pieces together.”
Any funds raised that are not used toward the reward will help pay for Wilhelm’s medical expenses.
Riley County Police Department asks people with any information or those who see a vehicle matching the description to call dispatch at 785-537-2112.
