Injuries Fatal to Turkish Citizen Struck by Car

A Turkish government employee who was struck by a car while walking to class at West Coast University this week died Wednesday at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, the coroner’s office said.

Ferhan Polat, 32, was admitted to the hospital Tuesday with head, chest and internal injuries. University officials said Polat, a treasury controller for the Turkish Republic, was going to a computer class at 6:30 p.m. when he was hit by a light blue Toyota near La Veta Avenue and Devon Road.

The car did not stop, but a witness wrote down a license number and police arrested 23-year-old Can Phuoc Nguyen of Orange.

Now, said Orange Police Lt. Timm Browne, the charge “will probably go from felony hit and run to vehicular manslaughter,” although the final decision will be with the district attorney’s office.

Polat was enrolled in West Coast’s master’s degree program in international business administration, and was living with three other Turkish students, all of whom were sponsored by the Turkish government, according to Joan Horrigan, the school’s academic services manager.

“We all knew him,” Horrigan said. “We were all shocked.”

Polat’s wife lives in Turkey, according to Eleanor H. Castonguay, director of the university’s Orange campus.

Castonguay, who said Polat was the first student she met when she assumed her position earlier this year, said he “will be missed by all who were fortunate to know him.”

The school has established a memorial fund in Polat’s name to buy research volumes for the school’s library. Contributions may be addressed to West Coast University-Orange Center, 500 S. Main St., Suite 110, Orange, Calif. 92668.