Syracuse police have made an an arrest in a suspected hit-and-run case on the 700 block of Comstock Avenue that occurred at about 1 a.m. Feb. 22, said crash investigator Gary Bulinski.

After months of investigation, officers charged Syracuse University student Ryan Travers on Tuesday with making a punishable false written statement, a class A misdemeanor, after he confessed to officers that he was driving the car upon interrogation, Bulinski added. Officers arraigned Travers in city criminal court where he pled guilty. Sentencing is set for June 2, Bulinski said. The charge carries with it a maximum sentence of jail time of up to one year.

On Feb. 22, a teal Honda traveling northbound near Shaw Residence Hall struck SU freshman Emily Smith, fracturing her skull, left leg and spine. That night, Travers told officers although he owned the car, a person he knew only as “Nick” was driving at the time of the accident and later fled on foot before officers arrived.

Officers were not able to charge Travers with driving under the influence because he was not administered a blood-alcohol level test as officers believed he was the passenger.

“There was alcohol involvement because we could see he was visibly impaired but as a passenger there would be no reason to test him, both parties were intoxicated,” he said. “But we would not be able to substantiate it in court.”

Although it is believed both students consumed alcohol prior to the incident, both did so at private residences and investigators did not pursue charges against those locations.

This is not Travers’ first run in with the law as he was convicted of driving while ability impaired in 2002 near Watertown, Bulinski said.

Smith is currently at her home in Wallingford, Pa., recovering from her injuries. She has undergone several surgeries and said she hopes to be walking again by next month. She also hopes to return to being a student at SU in the fall semester.

She was not hoping for more charges against Travers and is more concerned with her return to campus than Travers’ trip to court.

“I’m not really upset, what happens to him doesn’t really affect what happens to me,” she said.

SU spokesman Kevin Morrow could not comment on any judicial actions but said the student will face consequences.

“Suffice to say this student is in serious trouble,” he said. “This is a very unfortunate situation that could have become even more tragic.”

Published on April 22, 2003 at 12:00 pm