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Trash Truck Kills Brooklyn Law Professor

2006_12_bklyncrash.jpgYesterday morning, Sara Robbins, a law professor and head of the library at Brooklyn Law School, was killed by a private trash truck at Montague and Henry Streets in Brooklyn Heights. The 54 year old Robbins was headed to work and had been crossing the street around 6:15AM when the truck hit her as it turned south. She was "dragged under the rear wheels and crushed," according to the Post. The truck, owned by IESI NY Corp. in the Bronx, was being driven by Brian Hayes, who was not charged as police did not yet suspect any criminality. We can't second guess the situation, but we will say that private trash trucks, especially in the earlier parts of the morning, do seem to barrel down streets.

Brooklyn Law School Dean Joan Wexler said, "She was beloved by everyone in the Brooklyn Law School community. The essence of an academic institution is the library. She made sure it functioned perfectly." Robbins, a resident of Brooklyn Heights, had been at Brooklyn Law for 22 years; she also taught a research course and helped redesigned the law library.

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  • guest

    I just read about Professor Robbins tragic death. I knew her and she will a great person and teacher. Rest in Peace Professor Robbins!

  • PCO

    I was stunned to read the NY Times article about Sara's death (which was about 10 days after the accident). She taught a legal research class through Pratt, and I found her warm, intelligent and kind. She will be missed.

  • Ellen

    Sad,sad, sad. Sara was a great professor -- supportive, smart and insightful. I'm sorry that future BLS students won't have the benefit of working with her. Those of us who did will miss her.

  • Peej

    I am a BLS grad who took a research class taught by Professor Robbins. She was one of my favorite professors, as she was very kind and supportive of her students, and an excellent librarian and teacher. I was deeply saddened at this horrible loss when I learned of it this morning. No one deserves to die like this, and I'm so sorry that this happened to her. May her soul rest in peace and my condolences to her family and friends.

  • evan

    grrrrr growl hem haw scratch scratch claw i'm an evil troll! anyways yes an unfortunate incident, my condolences

  • I'm so shocked by her passing. I'm a Brooklyn Law School alumnus and remember Sara well. When I became a law librarian, she couldn't have been more welcoming or collegial. She will be very missed.

  • dalia

    whoever evan, is if someoned is killed by a truck driving over them, the least you can do is leave your condolences and not make fun of the victim.

    its really just sick that you would defend yourself and name call someone else who is just standing up for her.

    my sincerest condolences to the family of the victim.

  • isnt there a way to block specific IP addresses to weed out these trolls and attackers?

  • evan

    sheila you must be a weepy transvestite for being so sensitive - shut the hell up ya stupid she-man!

  • yano

    Don't forget Gerald Shargel and Mel Sachs. Or George from The Appentice!

    Also, me. ;)

  • Accredited? Notable grads from BLS:

    David Dinkins

    Irving Lazar

    Geraldo Rivera

    Nicholas Scoppetta

    Paul Simon (did not graduate)

    Larry Silverstein

    Sheldon Silver

  • drewo

    It's incredible that the Mayor's office continues to be completely oblivious to the escalating carnage caused by motor vehicles on city streets. We hear plenty about gun control and trans fats, but when ordinary NY citizens - young and old, rich and poor, on foot or bicycle - cannot even leave their homes without the fear of being menaced or killed by an automobile, then the quality of life in this city has reached a new low. It's been said before: it will take murder-by-automobile of an entire white, socially-connected, upscale-neighborhood family to prod our so-called civil servants into action.

  • John Q

    Traffic in Brooklyn is crazy in general. There is virtually no enforcement of moving violations. I don't understand why the city doesn't take action, it would be a source of revenue for them. I know Atlantic ave is basically a freeway, and crossing Flatbush and Tillary is taking your life in your hands.

  • Adam C.

    William, BLS is most definitely accredited. It may not have the cachet of Columbia or NYU, but I would measure the quality of the students and the professors against any law school in this city. BLS turns out excellent lawyers.

  • Gwinny

    Yet another vehicle killing a pedestrian and not being charged with anything (not even reckless driving). What a shocker!

    My condolences to Sara's family.

  • William

    Is Brooklyn Law even accredited??? Geez...

  • Samantha T

    Yano - I'm a BLS alum, as well, and had the utmost respect for Professor Robbins. This is a senseless, senseless tragedy and, you're right, she struck me as a very careful, deliberate person.

    I was always terrified at Joralemon and Boerum because people drive like absolute maniacs there.

    I live in that neighborhood and trash trucks, newspaper delivery trucks, etc. fly through the streets in the morning. It's very noticeable because the neighborhood is otherwise very quiet.

  • Robert Moses

    http://brooklynheightsblog.com has a very civilized discussion going on right now about this tragedy.

  • yano

    As someone who used to live in the area and who attended Brooklyn Law and worked in the library with Sara, I can tell you that she was a lovely, intelligent woman and an excellent professor. Frankly when I saw the headline, I expected the accident to have taken place on the corner of Adams and Joralemon---a treacherous spot. The trucks in that neighborhood do barrel down the narrow streets of the Heights, though, especially in the morning. She was a very careful, methodical person--and it puzzles and saddens me to think she lost her life to carelessness, hers or anothers.

  • We can't second guess the situation, but we will say that private trash trucks, especially in the earlier parts of the morning, do seem to barrel down streets.

    So you can't, and then you proceed to do exactly that.

    Got it.

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