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A boy fatally crossed paths with a firetruck responding to a call about an unconscious person collided yesterday in Elmhurst. Twelve year old Michael Kandathil was running across the street to get the mail when a truck from Engine Company 289 was traveling west on the eastbound lane of Hampton Street. The truck's driver, who was very distraught, was not charged, but Kandathil's death is under investigation. Witnesses suspect that the boy may have slipped on the wet pavement. Also, a double parked car may have "obstructed the view of both the driver of the fire truck and Michael as he crossed the street," according to the NY Times. A police officer told the Post, "You know who's at fault is the person who double-parked the car. That's why we give tickets to double-parked cars - to prevent things like this from happening."
The FDNY extended its thoughts and prayers to the Kandathil family. Michael would have started the eighth grade this fall.
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Horrible tragedy.
The way to cut down on double parked cars is not to simply just continue ticketing them. That is a failed policy as evidenced by the rampant double parking all over the city. Ticketing offenders is only half the equation and cannot carry the whole load.
That means raising the fees on curbside parking space (which is mostly free or very low cost) to encourage more people into off-street garages and mass transit modes of transport. The city also needs to give people somewhere to park or extremely short term pick-up and drop off zones (like 10-15 minutes).
They don't ticket double parkers nearly enough, or bike lane obstructers either!
I really hate to place any blame on the victim, but the article does say that the firetruck had lights and sirens going. It should be common sense that when you hear sirens nearby, you should stay put if you're on the sidewalk or pull over if your in a car. It's not just for your own safety, but for the benefit of whomever the emergency vehicle is speeding to help.