The light turned green on University Way Northeast for the southbound Metro bus at 1:28 a.m. A few seconds later, freshman Chase Anderson was dead.

Just minutes earlier on April 25, Anderson decided to get some food. He mounted his longboard and headed west along Northeast 45th Street. He didn’t ride on the sidewalk. He was on the street. And he did not wear a helmet.

As he entered the intersection of Northeast 45th Street and the Ave, Anderson collided with the side of the bus and fell underneath. According to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, the wheels ran over his head, killing him instantly,

For many people, the accident is a devastating tragedy. For others, Anderson’s death has become a lesson in skateboarding safety.

“Oh my god, it was so sad,” senior Jessica Brophy said. “I’ve definitely tried to be safer on my board every day since then.”

Brophy is one of many UW students who commute to campus each day on a longboard. But the accident, however tragic, hasn’t seemed to stop students from riding their skateboards around campus.

“I definitely caught myself thinking that I’ve got to be more careful,” said junior Lucas Sawicki, an avid longboarder. “But it didn’t stop me from getting on my board the next day.”

He avoids boarding on dangerous surfaces.

“If it’s too wet I don’t ride. I don’t ride in Red Square after class. And I always try to stay off of streets. You’ve got to be smart,” he said.

But while Sawicki and Brophy stay out of streets, others don’t. For those students, cruising the asphalt comes with the possibility of legal penalties.

“It is illegal to ride skateboards in the street,” said UWPD officer Anthony Stewart. “And I’ve cited a handful of students for doing so. The skateboard is recognized by the state as a toy, not a vehicle — so you can’t be on any streets or avenues or it’s going to be a $56 fine.”

While skateboarders are allowed to be on lanes or sidewalks, Stewart said they should always yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.

“No one’s out to get rid of skateboarding,” he said. “But there are no signs around campus saying that stupid things lead to stupid accidents — so people do stupid things that they shouldn’t. And I’ll cite them for it. People should use common sense, instead.”

Stewart also said that students who “stunt board” — or perform tricks on their skateboard — would be warned for the first offense, while second or third offenses could result in students’ skateboards being confiscated. Further offenses could result in arrests, he said.

Still, students insist that riding a longboard isn’t too dangerous — as long as riders take the proper precautions.

“I’ve learned my limits on the board,” Sawicki said. “I don’t wear a helmet. But I don’t ever go down hills either. You ride your skateboard at your own risk. But I’ve done it for years. And I try to be aware of everything around me. It’s about being safe when you ride.”