Sorority Sister, 19, Killed Crossing the Street

A 19-year-old college freshman’s promising future was cut tragically short when she was struck by a car near the University of Florida campus, despite a passing nurse’s desperate efforts to help her.

Hazel Krauss, a freshman business student and member of the Delta Gamma sorority, was crossing West University Avenue in Gainesville around 11:30 p.m. Saturday, October 24, when a driver suddenly swerved to avoid another vehicle and struck her, according to police.

The collision unfolded near 23rd Street, just outside the university, where Krauss had recently begun her first semester of college after moving from Chicago.

As the devastating scene unfolded, registered nurse Porchia Hardy happened to be driving nearby with her husband. The moment she spotted the injured teenager, her instincts took over.

Hardy immediately pulled over, instructed her husband to activate their hazard lights and rushed to Krauss’s side, doing everything she could to help while waiting for emergency responders.

For approximately eight minutes, Hardy remained with the young woman, determined to provide whatever assistance she could.

Although Krauss was eventually rushed to UF Health Shands Hospital, she later died from her injuries.

Speaking to local television station WCJB, Hardy recalled how her experience as both a mother and a nurse compelled her to act. Her greatest hope now is that Krauss’s grieving family finds some comfort in knowing their daughter was surrounded by people who cared about her.

“She wasn’t alone and there were people there that cared for her,” Hardy said, explaining that those at the scene had tried to help.

The heartbreaking tragedy has sent shock waves through two school communities hundreds of miles apart.

Krauss had graduated earlier this year from Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, where she was remembered as a talented athlete, dedicated student and compassionate friend. She participated in volleyball and bowling while remaining active in school clubs and community service.

Her passion for volleyball extended beyond the classroom. Krauss was a captain for Chicago Elite Volleyball, where she wore No. 41 and had been coached by Kayla Malec since she was just 12 years old.

Malec told ABC7 Chicago that losing the young athlete was particularly difficult after watching her grow up and become a leader on the court. She recalled Krauss’s determination to improve and the countless memories they shared through years of competition.

Back in Chicago, Krauss’s former high school volleyball team was continuing its state playoff run while mourning the loss of their former teammate.

Saint Ignatius College Prep also paid tribute to the teenager, remembering her intellectual curiosity, faith, kindness and commitment to helping others.

At the University of Florida, flowers were placed outside the Delta Gamma sorority house as students struggled to comprehend the sudden loss of someone who had barely begun her college experience.

Meanwhile, investigators are still working to determine exactly what led to the collision.

According to Gainesville police, the vehicle that struck Krauss was traveling eastbound when the driver swerved to avoid another car. Authorities said the maneuver resulted in the vehicle hitting both Krauss and the second automobile.

Police confirmed that a separate driver was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence near the crash scene, but emphasized that the motorist was not involved in the fatal collision. No arrests have been announced in connection with Krauss’s death.

The tragedy has also renewed concerns about pedestrian safety along University Avenue, a busy roadway near campus. Gainesville City Commissioner Bryan Eastman has called for faster improvements to protect students and other pedestrians, while Florida transportation officials plan to review the crash after police complete their investigation.

For Krauss’s family, friends and former teammates, however, the questions surrounding that terrible Saturday night are overshadowed by the loss of a young woman whose life was only beginning.

And amid the heartbreak, Hardy hopes one message reaches the family: When their daughter needed help, a stranger stopped to make sure she was not alone.