Ed Ravin

Mon, 30 Oct 2006 09:08:45 -0500

A bit more detail - the NYPD filed an "incident report" for Dr. Lawrence Yoo, which means "someone got injured and was aided by NYPD". But they didn't file a "criminal complaint" about the hit-and-run - not until the cops heard the WINS story that included the family's complaint that the cops weren't doing anything. Sunday night, a day and a half after Dr. Yoo was run down, an NYPD honcho called the family and told them an investigation had been opened. The NYPD was also supposed to take the bike to the precinct for safekeeping (and as possible evidence in the criminal case). This kind of misconduct by the NYPD has happened many times before to bicyclists. I personally have had to cajole NYPD at two accident scenes to take the victim's bike. The family is also upset that the NYPD didn't contact them - they were called by the hospital staff. The family didn't even know about the incident report until they found it in the remains of Dr. Yoo's bag. Press release from the family is below. Note that if they hadn't been smart enough to "call the media", the hit-and-run would never have gotten investigated at all. Press Release: Immediate For Monday, October 30, 2006 Contact: Barbara Thomson (917) 687-5298 NYU Doctor on Bicycle Victim of Hit-and-Run by Bus in ICU at St. Vincent's Hospital - Family seeks help finding driver An NYU Kidney Specialist, Dr. Lawrence Yoo was the dreadful victim of a Hit-and- Run bus driver - possibly NYC Transit or NJ Transit coach express bus - while bi cycling on his way to work Friday morning between 8:00-8:08 AM at 9th Ave. & 39t h Street. His family is seeking the public's help in finding the driver. Anyon e with information is urged to call, Barbara Thomson at (917) 687-5298. NYPD ha s not yet assigned a detective to the case. The bus driver did not stop and is currently-at-large. The family is concerned that valuable time is passing and not enough is being done to seek witnesses or possible video from nearby cameras. The family will be handing out flyers Monda y morning at the scene. Dr. Yoo, age 33, was traveling southbound on 9th Avenue at 39th Street between 8 :00 and 8:08 A.M. during Friday morning's rush hour. The driver of the coach bu s pulled into the lane Dr. Yoo was traveling in and knocked him over with the pa ssenger side of the bus and dragged him before he or she headed toward the Linco ln Tunnel. Someone has chained his bicycle to a pole on the corner of 9th Avenu e and 39th and it is barely recognizable. There was one witness but that person was unable to get the license plate or identify the bus company. His body has been shattered from head to toe and he remains in the ICU at St. Vi ncent's Hospital after hours of cat scans, 4 hours of surgery, and 4 pints of bl ood. He needed an air tube to help him breathe. It was removed this morning an d he can identify the bus. Unfortunately, the police are not available today. NYPD told them that they cannot use the TIPS hotline because he only sustained i njuries and was not killed. Dr. Yoo remains in intensive care with is wife of four (4) months Dr. Jessica De laney. They met during their residencies at Montefiore Hospital and are well-awa re of the severity of his injuries. He is expected to receive more surgeries ov er the next year and does not expect to be released from the hospital for 6 mont hs. His wife learned of the accident when she was paged by Roosevelt hospital staff. The police did not contact her. The Emergency Room at St. Vincent's called th e hospital. The police report was left inside Dr. Yoo's crumpled bag with his mangled belongings. # # #

Gothamist: Two Separate Bus-Hitting-Pedestrian Incidents

Ed Ravin