Bus Kills Pedestrian on East 57th

A 65 year old woman crossing East 57th at First Avenue was run over by a city bus yesterday. A BM1 express bus was making a left turn from First Avenue and did not see Gay Wiener crossing the street. The bus hit Wiener, dragging her under the wheels. While the bus did have a green light, Wiener also had the "walk" signal. The driver was given a summons for failing to yield to a pedestrian and making an improper turn. Area residents complain that the intersection is dangerous and that it needs more traffic cops.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on July 4, 2006 9:40 AM

Comments [rss]

anonymous

JOJ- Believe me, after seeing seeing the horrific sight of a beautiful, healthy women torn, broken, blood covered, and beyond recognition (as was my last look at her) lying crushed under the wheels of a bus, I sincerely doubt anyone had the frame of mind to let a name phase them.

She carried her name proudly because it was hers and it would have been her laughing at anyone who's first comment, after reading of her tragic death, would regard humor.

Julie

How awful that this person,joj, made fun of Gay's name. Gay was a very old and dear friend of my mother's. She was not only a beautiful woman, but she was also very kind and a great friend, wife and mother. She had a husband and two beautiful daughters. She is sorely missed by all who knew her. Shame on joj for making fun of her. A person cannot help her god given name, and Weiner was not her name at birth, she married a man with the last name of Weiner. Despite the divorce rate rate in this country they had a long and lasting marriage. This joj person infuriates me...

Anthony Wiener

I agree; making fun of her name is not cool. At all. (P.S.: Vote for me, Mayor Wiener, in 2009)

sdd1234

joj, are you kidding me that you are making fun of her name? she has family & friends who are grieving & you think the officers were "convulsing into laughter". i think you and bus driver need to have your heads examined. gay was not an unusual name back then but i'm sure she heard a lot of ridicule from idiots like you. why not shut up & let her have peace now?

NYPD watcher

Well sure as sh*t if that had been a police officer or city official that had been run over, they probably would've tackled the bus driver, dragged her out of the bus at gunpoint, and charged her with involuntary manslaughter. If it was a cyclist, NYPD would proclaim it was because he didn't have the required front bell and shouldn't be riding in all that traffic. And for the rest if you, sorry, you really just need to be more careful.

nisey79

I live 2 blocks away from that intersection; it is always nasty, very few drivers yield to pedestrians using the crosswalk because everyone is trying to get on the bridge or across town in a mad dash.

grafittix

Must be a pretty powerful union to protect the driver from a manslaughter charge.

robb monn

can you imagine how much people would freak out if the subway killed 200-250 people a year, every year? we lose as many people to traffic/ped accidents a decade as we lost in the WTC, but there is very little outrage.

con stat

Can you imagine if these weekly deaths were part of the crime stats? We'll no longer be the safest big city in the Nation.

ari

i have never understood why drivers who injure or kill pedestrians (when the driver does have the right of way but fails to stop) get off with only minor traffic infractions. if anything, i think having stricter policies (like, i don't know, jail time or fines) would cause drivers to be that much more aware of their surroundings while driving.

i've never been hit in the 10+ years i've lived in NYC but i came close once. a van was rounding the corner and slammed on the brakes inches from me. i was lucky.

mike

How is this not vehicular manslaughter? Has any driver been charged with more than a minor traffic infraction for any of the pedestrian/bike deaths in the last few years?

interlard

I find it bizarre beyond belief that in the US it is normal to cross the screen and have turning traffic legally trying to run you down. Any retard could see there's a problem here.

Also, anyone who have ever seen a bus driver will know these pricks like to threaten pedestrians. I called 311 after one deliberately drove right up to me at a crossing, stopping only inches away. After I explained to the idiot on 311 that I hadn't actually been run over by the bus (yeah, I'm OK enough to talk on the phone and I thought 311 would be the first number to call, right), he told me to complain to MTA, and they were only open office hours, so I should call back on Monday. Meanwhile the shithead driver gets a whole weekend of nearly killing people. Maybe it was the same guy who killed this woman.

Anomalous

joj, the woman died and you make fun of her name? Classy!

Yakov Smirnoff

In former Soviet Union, Gay Weiner hits you!

Kevin Walsh

This happens a great deal.

Why not institute separate signals at especially busy crossings, one to allow pedestrians to cross safely (possibly augmented by a countdown signal) followed by a green *specifically* for motorized traffic?

On Northern Blvd, a 4-lane conduit with synchronized lights, pedestrians have abt 10 seconds to cross before the signal starts to change. Not enough.

The car remains king in NYC. Sure, motorists can be prosecuted when injuries and fatalities occur, but that's after the fact. Much more in the way of strictures should be put in place to allow pedestrians to safely navigate NYC crossings and be safe from not only cars and trucks, but from bicyclists who also ignore the rules.

www.forgotten-ny.com

joj

Her name is GAY WIENER?? The coroner and the cops must have all been like "Her name is what?" before convulsing into laughter. All this would have been prevented if she wore a helmet and full body armor. So irresponsible.