EKU professor killed in accident, Kentucky cops say

An Eastern Kentucky University professor has died after she was struck by a vehicle outside a restaurant, according to the Richmond Police Department.

Suzanne Byrd, 64, was hit and injured in a Wendy’s parking lot on Keeneland Drive about 5:20 p.m. Wednesday, Richmond Police Chief Rodney Richardson said. She was a pedestrian at the time. She was given emergency care but died on Friday at University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital, according to Richardson and her obituary.

Richmond police are still investigating the collision but there were “no pending criminal charges” as of Monday, Richardson said.

“Everyone was cooperative,” he said.

Byrd was an associate professor in the biology department at EKU, according to EKU’s website. She had a doctorate from the University of South Alabama and an undergraduate degree from Austin Peay State University.

Byrd was teaching seven courses this semester.

“Dr. Byrd was a much beloved member of the department of biological sciences. She was a gifted teacher and capable of teaching in a variety of disciplines, including introductory biology, cell biology and principles of molecular biology in the curriculum of the biology department,” her obituary read.

She was named to the “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers,” according to her obituary. She also received an EKU award for Critical Thinking Teacher of the Year in 2015-16 and the “Golden Apple” award in 2015.

Byrd’s funeral is scheduled for Thursday, according to her obituary. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested for donations to be made to the Eastern Kentucky scholarship fund in her name.

Jeremy Chisenhall covers breaking news for the Lexington Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com. He joined the paper in 2020, and is originally from Erlanger, Ky.