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A little girl eager to board her school bus was hit by a car on Marcy Avenue near Lorimer. A BMW fatally struck 5 year old Chana Friedlander yesterday morning, and she was laid to rest in the afternoon, in keeping with Orthodox Jewish tradition. A few things about the accident raise a couple questions. The bus driver says the flashing lights were on and the stop sign was extended to warn other drivers. However, the BMW's driver, Trisha Thomas, says the there were no warnings. What's more, police say there would not have been enough room for the BMW SUV to pass between the bus and other parked cars with the stop sign extended.
Chana was supposed to wait for the school bus to cross the street to pick her up (it was picking up other kids on the other side); instead, she ran out from between cars in the middle of the street. Additionally, police do not believe Thomas was speeding, as her car was not damaged in the accident. And the bus had a couple violations, including "having the cab and body of the bus improperly secured to the frame" but those don't seem to factor into the accident.
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The sad and predictable coda to the news article linked from this story: "No charges have been filed."
drewo, This is a tragedy but if the Red Flashers were off, the SUV wasn't speeding, and it's legal to Pass; What charges would you file?
A woman in my office's cousin was the driver of the SUV; needless to say she is devastated. At any rate, none of the stories mention that the 5 y.o. was alone on the street. Seems a little negligent if you ask me.
As a person who drives around south williamsburg a lot, the buses opperated by the hasidim rarly use the stop sign. In addition, most drivers in that neighborhood seem to have their cell phone glued to their ears as they drive their minivans irradically.
I would think the STOP flag pops out automatically when the school bus is stopped and the door openned.
IF and IF the little girl was chasing the bus and not waiting for it at a designated stop, then the STOP flag would not be utilized since the bus was still moving.
"I would think the STOP flag pops out automatically when the school bus is stopped and the door openned."
Unfortunately, It's not. I beleive it pops out when they hit the proper Flasher switch.
S.D.: I recall reading somewhere (probably on the Web) that in Japan any driver who is involved in an automobile accident that results in a fatality, whether the driver was responsible or not, automatically loses their driver's license for life. A quick internet search could not confirm this, but I like the idea.
We have been conditioned in this country to accept death-by-automobile with a collective shrug. That it's life in the "fast lane" and that is the price we pay for our supposed quality-of-life. We can't expect the police to ascertain guilt - as full-time occupants of their police cars, they relate to auto traffic more than pedestrian traffic. They too are conditioned to quickly write up a report as an "accident" - where often "negligence" or "carelessness" can be substituted for "accident".
All too often, we read about car accidents in New York where a pedestrian is killed by a turning bus, a van careens into a crowded sidewalk or a cyclist is forced by one auto into the path of another auto, and the story ends the same: no charges were filed. No, it's not easy to ascertain responsibility in most auto accidents. However, I don't trust the NYC police to do full and thorough investigations, as it seems their goal is to file a minimum of paperwork and, in knee-jerk fashion, dismiss auto fatalities as "accidents". Sadly, this has also become acceptable procedure to most New Yorkers.
Pleae tell me this can be handled as a horrible accident, and not a story that needs to have mention of "orthodox" and "jewish" every time it comes up.
Joclyn is right. This is a horrible accident. The SUV driver doesn't seem to be responsible ('though I hate SUVs on principle) and the bus driver may or may not be at fault, especially if the bus was moving at the time. I don't think there's a Jewish, or even cellphone conspiracy here.
That said, why is a 5 year-old running across the street unsupervised? 5 year-olds do this all the time (my own sister included).
drewo is only right in that traffic accidents are taken for granted too much. I don't think banning a driver for life is right, if they took adequate precautions.
wz wrote...
As a person who drives around south williamsburg a lot, the buses opperated by the hasidim rarly use the stop sign. In addition, most drivers in that neighborhood seem to have their cell phone glued to their ears as they drive their minivans irradically.
wz,
I also live and work and drive around in this neighborhood a lot. All buses are using their flashing lights. You are out right wrong by saying “the buses operated by the hasidim rarly use the stop sign”. (not to mention that you, I assume, not a Chasid, don’t know how to spell. See the bold type). OK… It is only a blog. I forgive you for the spelling. But fact is all buses use their flashing red lights. Maybe too much. I know some good drivers that stop and pull over every few blocks so cars can pass. Those who don’t use it are the exception. I had not seen it yet.
I’m not out to bash my fellow brothers, but you are 100% right on your second point. Everybody is glued to cell phones! But it’s not only the Chassidim! It’s all drivers.
It is also the right place to mention that many in this community (and yes… Chassidim are guilty of this just the same) do not follow the basic traffic laws. Forget about right of way, yield for pedestrians, etc.
So I would like to remind my fellow Yiden (not bashing, but do take it seriously…)
1) Never pass a school bus with flashing lights. Even an ambulance may not pass! It is the law.
2) If you want to turn left and I want to go straight, I have the right of way! Example: If I come up Division Avenue from Kent and wait for the light to change at Division corner Wythe and you (yes, you that almost crashed in me today and blamed me!) are coming from Bedford Avenue and wait on Division corner Wythe and want to turn onto Wythe, be a Mench and give me the right of way!
3) Turning vehicles, yield for pedestrians! If you turn from Ross St. onto Lee Ave., stop and wait for ME if I cross the street. It is the law! This law by the way extended last year to include pedestrians on the other side of the yellow line as well on a two way Stree.
hummus hommus chummus...
like hasid, spell it however you please.