ELLICOTT — A 74-year-old man and chairman of a Tennessee college’s board of directors died after being struck by a vehicle last week in the parking lot of a West Ellicott business.

The Ellicott Police Department said Austin C. Piper died as the result of injuries suffered Thursday outside Home Depot, 935 Fairmount Ave. The Knoxville, Tenn., man was walking outside the store when he was hit by a vehicle making a turn in the parking lot.

First responders were alerted to the accident around 1:45 p.m.

According to Ellicott police, Piper fell and hit his head on the ground after being struck. He was taken by ambulance to UPMC Chautauqua and later airlifted to UPMC Hamot in Erie, Pa.

The police department was made aware that Piper had died on Saturday.

The driver of the vehicle, identified as a Randolph resident, told police he did not see Piper when he made the turn in the parking lot. In a news release Monday afternoon, Ellicott police said no charges would be filed against the driver.

Piper was the chairman of the Maryville College board of directors in Maryville, Tenn. The private liberal arts college has more than 1,100 enrolled students.

In a statement, college President Dr. Bryan F. Coker called Piper “synonymous with Maryville College” and said he and Piper had the “best possible relationship” as board chair and president.

“He had quickly become my adviser, mentor and friend,” said Coker, who began his presidency in 2020. “The entire MC community will miss him immensely, and we are sending our love and prayers to the Piper family during this challenging time.”

Piper joined the college’s board of directors in October 2019 and served as chair of the board’s Advancement Committee. He began his term as board chair on Oct. 16, 2020, becoming only the 20th person to hold the position in the college’s 202-year history.