NIU student Lisa Hessenius, 21, remains in critical condition at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford after being hit by a car while crossing the street Tuesday afternoon.

St. Anthony communicator Cheryl Lester said Hessenius was in neuro-intensive care as of Wednesday afternoon but could not comment further on her progress.

Hessenius was walking west on Stadium Drive on Tuesday when a sedan heading south on Annie Glidden Road struck her. At the time, Hessenius was crossing against the traffic light, police said.

Witnesses at the scene estimate the car’s speed at the time of the accident to be between 35 and 40 miles per hour, DeKalb Police Lt. Jim Kayes said.

The speed limit in that area of Annie Glidden Road is 30 miles per hour.

Police have yet to decide if either Hessenius or the driver of the vehicle will be cited in the accident. It is likely, however, that Hessenius will be cited for disobeying a traffic signal, Kayes said.

Illinois statutes say that pedestrians, like cars, are subject to traffic lights.

The driver, despite having the right-of-way, also may be cited for failure to reduce speed, Kayes said.

Getting every pedestrian to follow laws is difficult because people always are looking for the quickest way to get from one point to the other, he said.

While they are most prevalent between Lucinda Avenue and Stadium Drive, on Annie Glidden Road, pedestrian issues in town aren’t confined to that area.

Before and after school, other parts of town have problems with student pedestrians as well, Kayes said. Those areas have crossing guards, however, and crossing is monitored.