Robert Duane Sheldahl, 51, an Ames resident, died Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines from massive head injuries he sustained when he was hit by a car.

While on his way to work at the Memorial Union Tuesday at 9:15 a.m., Sheldahl was hit by a car at the crosswalk between the Union and Lincoln Way.

Sheldahl was walking on the sidewalk that runs northeast toward the Union, Capt. Rob Bowers of the Department of Public Safety, said.

As he was crossing the road, he was hit by a car driven by Jennifer Lynne Paff, a graduate student in textiles and clothing. Paff was traveling east in the driveway on the south side of the Union toward the parking ramp, Bowers said.

Bowers said DPS received numerous calls from witnesses of the incident. Bowers said Sheldahl was taken to Mary Greeley Medical Center and was later transported to Iowa Methodist Medical Center due to the severity of his head injuries.

Bowers said Sheldahl was not responsive at the scene of the accident.

Bowers said it is possible Paff could be brought up on charges.

“We certainly cannot rule that out at this time,” Bowers said.

The investigation is still pending, and it is not known who was at fault for the accident, he said.

“It is more of a civil thing than a law enforcement thing,” Bowers said. “It is [the sort of matter] that is handled by insurance companies.”

Roger Ferris, operations manager for the MU, said Sheldahl began working at the Union as a bus boy shortly after the new food court opened in August 1996.

Ferris said Sheldahl was a part-time employee whose duties included cleaning up the food court and the commons area. Although Sheldahl was not scheduled to work until 11 a.m., Ferris said he often came into work a little early.

“He was a good employee of the Union,” Ferris said. “He made a lot of friends over here.”

Ferris said he has many fond memories of Sheldahl bustling around the commons area.

“It was a tragic, tragic accident,” Ferris said. “I know everyone at the Union has been affected by it. We’ll miss him.”

Ferris said funeral plans are scheduled for Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in Slater, Iowa, Sheldahl’s home town.

The services will be held at Palestine Lutheran Church.

Sheldahl does have some surviving family in the area, Bowers said. It is unknown if he is married.