Robert John Stupka III died at 10:23 a.m. Wednesday at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn., following injuries sustained after being struck by a bus Tuesday evening on the ISU campus.

ISU Police Capt. Gene Deisinger said alcohol or excessive speeding were not involved in the incident and road conditions were normal.

“Preliminary results indicate it was an unfortunate accident where Mr. Stupka walked out between two vehicles and in front of the oncoming Midwest Coach,” he said.

According to ISU Police, Stupka was crossing north onto Pammel Drive between a CyRide bus and another vehicle. He walked into the path of a Midwest Coaches Inc. bus driven by Christy Jo Elliott, 32, of Boone.

Stupka, who was a senior in biochemistry, is survived by his younger brother and sister, said his father, Bob Stupka. He said Rob was planning on earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biochemistry and eventually earning a doctoral degree in biochemistry.

Ever since he was a young child, Rob knew he wanted to improve society through his love of science, Bob said.

“He thought he was going to develop a cure for cancer or some other disease when he was a little kid and, at 21, he was still going to do that,” he said. “He was his own guy; he didn’t act like other people acted – he always acted like he was himself.

“It breaks our heart because we were looking so forward to celebrating his graduation and we’ll never get there.”

Robert Thornburg, professor of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology, oversaw Rob’s research in his laboratory and said he had a bright future.

“He was trying to make transgenic plants that were to improve pollination to increase plant yields for the purpose of feeding more people worldwide,” he said.

“He was so upbeat about everything; he was so involved in what was going on; he was so excited about the research that he was doing.”

Thornburg said Rob was walking to the Molecular Biology Building to continue the work he loved when the incident occurred.

“He had just finished dinner and was on the way back to the lab to work,” he said.

Dana Frits, senior in biochemistry, researched with Rob in Thornburg’s laboratory.

“He was a very easy-going guy – we would goof off about what we were doing in school and I never saw him in a bad mood,” she said.

Tom Northrop, co-owner of Pizza Pit, 207 Welch Ave., said Rob, who worked as a cook at the restaurant, was devoted to his work.

“He did his job and a little more,” he said. “He was the kind of guy everyone wanted to work with.”

Frits said Rob always maintained a positive demeanor and was fun to be around.

“He always found a way to make you laugh,” she said. “He is going to be missed.”

Annette Hacker, program director for university relations, said funeral arrangements will be announced within the next few days.