A 19-year-old University female who was hit by a campus transit bus Friday morning was released from Athens Regional Hospital that afternoon.

But police cited Sakura Faye Yamazaki, who was struck just after 10 a.m., for walking into the path of a vehicle, said University Police Chief Jimmy Williamson.

Yamazaki, an international student from Japan, was crossing Baldwin Street from the Fine Arts building toward Joe Brown Hall.

“I didn’t see her get hit, but as we were stopping I heard this noise,” said KC Georges, a sophomore from Marietta who was on the Orbit bus. “Everyone turned their heads, and the girl was crumpled on the sidewalk. It took a second to register that we hit her.”

Many passers-by then dialed 911 on their cell phones, Georges said.

Sgt. First Class Jeff Thompson with the University ROTC was the first to help.

Thompson, who arrived on campus last week and has served three tours in Iraq, worked quickly with other members of ROTC to stabilize Yamazaki.

“She was bleeding from the back of the head, and I was able to cut her bookbag off and try to steady her head and neck,” Thompson said. “She was seizing up and going in and out of consciousness.”

Sophomore Allison O’Shea, who was waiting at the bus stop during the accident, said Yamazaki first tried to cross Baldwin while the bus slowed down as it approached the stop.

Yamazaki hesitated and then attempted to cross again, O’Shea said. She was struck by the front right corner of the bus.

“Her eyes opened and kind of rolled back, her head was bleeding,” O’Shea said. “Another student held her head, we told her not to move. She was breathing.” The bus remained at the scene until about 10:45 a.m., when Campus Transit Operations Manager Chris Baker removed it.

“No one was moving on the bus, even at 10:10 a.m.,” Georges said. “After people started helping her, I decided to go to class and had to push my way to the front of the bus. I wanted to give the girl space because she was lying next to the back doors of the bus.”

Police said the bus driver was not at fault.

“He has not been charged with anything and will not be,” said Ron Hamlin, the University campus transit system manager.

Yamazaki is recovering with back pains and many bruises, said friend Ching Er, a sophomore from Malaysia.

“I talked to friends who are close to her, and she needs to rest,” she said.