CHILD HIT BY VEHICLE ON 77TH AND COLUMBUS
A 13-year-old walking a bicycle was hit by a vehicle on 77th street and Columbus Avenue around 2:45 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, according to police.
A tipster told us he is an eighth grade student at the Computer School on 77th street.
The Daily News reports that the 13-year-old was hit by a minivan turning left onto Columbus; he has a broken femur, and was listed in stable condition. NYPD told us the injuries were “non-life-threatening.”
@westsiderag Pedestrian was struck & taken to the hospital w/non-life-threatening injuries. Accident is under investigation Streets are open
— NYPD 20th Precinct (@NYPD20Pct) March 24, 2015
Update: It’s not clear what precipitated the crash: The Post and CBS, citing witnesses, reported that the child had been riding East on 77th street (which runs West) trying to beat the light, but DNAinfo reported that the child was walking the bike through a crosswalk, citing police.
Captain Michael Falcon of the 20th precinct tells us “It looks like he was walking the bike.”
The driver, who was making a left onto Columbus, was not charged, the Daily News reported, and police are investigating who had the light.
Clarification: Our initial report stated that the child was on the bike, but police say he appears to have been walking the bike.
Thanks to Sharon for the photo.
How do you hit a person in a crosswalk and not be charged with anything?
You are not charged when it’s not your fault – the hallmark of an advanced legal system we have in this country.
http://nypost.com/2015/03/24/boy-riding-his-bike-hit-run-over-by-car/
link didn’t copy first time.
I’m not a lawyer, but I think the reason we’ve heard of not-guilty verdicts and innocent until proven guilty is that the police can charge you with a crime if there’s probable cause. Are they judge and jury? Certainly not, no.
So the right-of-way law is extremely clear: a driver who fails to exercise due care and injures a pedestrian or cyclist who had the right of way is charged with a misdemeanor and the draconian punishment of a $250 fine.
According to DNA info and the corrected police info above, the kid was walking in the crosswalk crossing Columbus when a driver turning left onto Columbus hit the kid and broke his legs. Unless the steering wheel malfunctioned or something, it is a misdemeanor under the right-of-way law. CIS isn’t required, the NYPD should just make the charge. I hope Helen Rosenthal steps up for the victim.
It feels jarring that a driver who hit a 17-year-old cyclist on Lex and 105th yesterday was charged with reckless driving (plus leaving the scene). That 17-year-old cyclist victim is an auxiliary officer at the 20th precinct. My best to both teenagers, I hope they recover soon.
Btw I don’t mean to be obnoxious, I just get so freaking fed up reading about drivers running people over and police saying ‘no criminality.’
Yes, because we know everything published in the post is the absolute truth. Shall we talk about presidential running mates anyone?
yes, that’s the beauty of the American legal system. The beauty of the New York City legal system is that even if you are at fault, you don’t get charged.no
Until the pro-car PR campaign of the 1920s, an accident was always the fault of the driver, not the pedestrian. By default. Streets were public space.
That’s an unrealistic ideal now, but we let drivers off way too easily.
Poor kid, a broken femur is going to take a long time to recover from with months of rehab. I wish him a quick and painless recovery.
A more pertinent question is what parent would allow a 13 year old ride a bike in this city? It’s the most dangerous thing to do in this city unless your are in the park.
1.)
Looks like the boy may very well have been riding in the park (and only in the park) after all.
2.) Even if he was riding outside of the park, how could you know that the parents “allowed” it?
How many thirteen-year-olds are supervised by their parents every waking moment of every day?
Even if the pedestrian or bicyclist is going against a light, motor vehicle drivers need to slow their turns and watch out! Kids are especially likely to do the unexpected.
By the way, forgive me for digressing but I must ask: when was the last time someone saw a kid around this age walking the dog?
This past Saturday, I happened to see boy who looked no older than twelve or so walking a dog in the neighborhood. But that is the first time in I don’t know how long that I have seen anyone who appeared under eighteen walking a dog.
Is it actually the case that these days kids rarely walk the family dog or take dog-walking jobs after school or on weekends, at least on the Upper West Side? Or am I just not looking at the right times or places?