Student hit by CapMetro bus on UT drag

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A man was taken to the hospital Friday afternoon after being hit by a Capital Metro bus near the University Co-op near the University of Texas campus.

CapMetro said on its Twitter page that the unidentified man was being taken to St. David's Medical Center but  it did not appear he was seriously injured.

However, late Friday, the student was identified as Cyril Yannick "Nick" Engmann, 18, of Rockwall, Texas.

The driver of the bus was issued a running-a-red-light ticket.

The incident in the 2200 block of Guadalupe Street when several students on both sides of the street were engaging in an end-of-semester tradition known as "Foam Sword Friday." The students were waving their foam swords when a man ran into the street just as the bus was approaching, according to video posted on a student's Facebook page.

The man who was hit was among those waving a foam sword. He also appeared in the video to be wearing mask of President Barack Obama's face.

After being struck, Engmann was knocked several feet in front of the bus, but quickly got back on his feet.

One of the man's friends posted on the Foam Sword Friday Facebook page that he was in the hospital but doing well.

"He's alert and alive and will be out and about again in a few hours," the post said.

The impact left the bus with a smashed-in windshield.

"Foam Sword Friday" was first organized by UT graduate students in 2007. School of Architecture Dean Frederick Steiner told KXAN he also took part in Friday's event and said it was sanctioned by the university.

"This will likely be the last year we do it," said Steiner.

Capital Metro officials released a statement about 4:30 p.m. Friday, which said the bus driver is a 21-year-veteran with only one accident on his record, that happened 10 years ago. He will be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation that will include a drug and alcohol test. If it is determined that the driver was at fault, he will face disciplinary action, according to Erica McKewen, with Capital Metro.