Gothamist: 4 Year Old Dies After Being Hit By Hummer

Jim N.

Wed, 04 Apr 2007 16:58:37 -0500

The Edge: Maybe next time before you "go there" you should read the article. They weren't jaywalking.

samiam

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 13:30:34 -0500

See what I mean?

robin.g

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 04:40:59 -0500

I see huge SUVs struggling to pull in and out of city gas stations and parking lots that are too small for them to fit comfortably. It takes them 5 minutes to maneuver around each other to leave the gas pump. Maybe it's their "right" to drive these things but why in the city where everything is so cramped? Wouldn't a smaller minivan or regular sedan just make more SENSE? SUVs are for hauling things and driving in the country or the woods.

samiam

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 21:51:26 -0500

Gwin: Take a look at the comments on this thread. Most of them just bitch about how "offensive" SUVs are. Do you really think that the SUV is the problem here? In this situation, if a camry or a taurus had hit the child, don't you think that the difference in his odds for survival would be negligible? On a different note, I have a hard time believing that the driver is not going to face subsequent consequences. Having the green light does not mean that he can drive through a crosswalk with people in it...right?

The Edge

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 19:31:15 -0500

Or maybe people oughta be a little more careful before jaywalking. Oh snap, I went there.

Tim N.

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 15:34:27 -0500

Oldsk: I know it's futile, but I'm fighting that fact you mention as best I can. And Brightliner is dead right. Unless you're hauling personnel or materiel through Fallujah, you drive a car like that for ego gratification only. And if your ego gratification is killing others, especially those weaker and/or poorer than you, it's time to find another outlet. Hookers, maybe, or internet porn. Or maybe just buy a damn fine overcoat... AND WALK.

left turner

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 14:51:06 -0500

yes, taking left turns with oncoming traffic is a serious problem. looking at oncoming cars rather than peds and CYCLISTS (who happen to be oncoming too) leads to many accidents, close calls, and jangled nerves. i have a really brilliant suggestion: how about drivers showing little patience and waiting until there are no threats anywhere!!! oh, sorry maybe, just maybe, you will be an hour and half late to wherever as opposed to only an hour and 25 mins! sheesh!

Brightliner

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 14:23:25 -0500

Why anyone needs to be driving such a huge SUV, we have no idea. Oh, come on, Jen. You're not that naive. You have every idea. It's all about being seen as the biggest, the baddest, the richest, especially in NYC, the conceit capital of the east coast, if not the country. Ideally, you'd want to be seen alone in the back seat while a uniformed chauffer drives so everyone knows you can not only afford to burn gas like there's no tomorrow just to move one person around, you can also afford to pay someone to do that for you. Two double posts in this thread already. Looks like the Gothamist comments system is as working as well as always, with posts not showing up for up to 15 minutes in pb's case. But error logs are for geeks, right? Street art rulz!

Gwin

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 14:16:31 -0500

samiam: way to oversimplify. People are whining about SUVs because more often than not, THEY are the ones running down and killing pedestrians and cyclists. (hopefully this isn't a double post)

Gwin

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 13:57:24 -0500

samiam: way to oversimplify. People are whining about SUVs BECAUSE they seem to be responsible for so many pedestrian/cyclist deaths.

samiam

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 13:12:22 -0500

This article should be about a 4 year old dying. Instead, it's about SUVs and how some new yorkers can't resist the urge to whine about them. Maybe you people should get your heads checked.

pb

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 12:09:38 -0500

Absolutely, Robb. I couldn't agree more.

pb

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 11:54:44 -0500

Absolutely, Robb. I couldn't agree more.

OldSk

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 11:43:08 -0500

Didn't you hear, Tim N? NYC are the new Burbs.

robb

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 11:20:06 -0500

Personally, I think that if you take a life with your car and are found at fault I think the following should happen: * Your forfeit your car. * You are automatically charged with involuntary manslaughter * Your license is suspended for 5 years with allowances only for getting to and from work. Too harsh? No way. Driving is serious business and I gotta tell you, not very many people are taking things seriously. I heard one time that the line between chaos and society is the line between people always thinking about the threat that the world poses them and the people who have concern about the threat they pose to the world. Brooklyn drivers are 80% the former and it is frightening.

Tim N.

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 11:00:50 -0500

Great points, WT and g. I've also noticed an alarming amount of drivers making rights on reds lately. Most, obviously, from out of town, where it is legal to do so, but something should be done to tell them they're not in the 'burbs anymore.

big cars pay up

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 11:00:23 -0500

Big cars should pay a tax to be in the City. I remember seeing an escalade in Hell's kitchen 10th ave driven by a tiny woman. She was trying to park it and was getting cues from two guys outside the car. What I noticed on this giant car were some scratches on the driver side door.

Lenny

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 11:00:18 -0500

How is it that a driver can KILL someone by failing to yield, and be let off with a TICKET? It's outrageous.

pb

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 11:00:15 -0500

When is this city going to reclaim sidewalks for pedestrians and get serious about punishing selfish drivers who insist on turning left and ploughing over pedestrians? This guy killed a kid because he was too selfish to stop. And driving a Hummer in NYC. I mean that says it all...

steveo

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 10:58:55 -0500

So he was summonsed for failing to yield to pedestrians, and killed someone. That's obviously criminally negligent homicide (at least), right? Right? Helloooo, Mr. or Ms. DA -- right?

bklynd

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 10:53:06 -0500

(risking a double-post) "They are looking left -- for another vehicle running the light -- not right -- for a pedestrian." I don't know about *that*, but it's true that when you are turning left and faced with oncoming traffic that wants to go straight, you tend to worry about that traffic and not peds.

bklynd

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 10:45:42 -0500

"They are looking left -- for another vehicle running the light -- not right -- for a pedestrian." I don't know about *that*. It's true that when you are making a left turn and you have oncoming traffic that wants to go straight, you tend to worry about that oncoming traffic.

nitpick this

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 10:35:11 -0500

Nitpicker That's a Hummer H3 which is 1/2 the size 1/3 the weight of a real Humvee which was sold as Hummer H1.

jess

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 10:17:54 -0500

oh the irony of the GM ad above the comments. . .

mihow

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 10:14:10 -0500

"Kruger, take note: Fine people for driving oversized cars and SUVs before finding iPod usage." Amen, Jen. Amen. There's a guy on our block who drives an Escalade. Have you ever seen one of these vehicles close up? They are freaking offensively huge. I don't see a reason to own a car that big especially in NYC. Plus, they have a car alarm on the beast, which goes off constantly. I haven't ever disliked someone I do not know so much. :[

steve

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 10:04:49 -0500

very sad I hope Carl Kruger does not use this as anecdotal evidence for that ridiculous bill to ban ipods in crosswalks

g

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 10:01:26 -0500

I think anyone who buys a Hummer (and perhaps any other car getting 11 mpg or less) should automatically have to serve in Iraq for six months.

Jen Chung

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 09:57:36 -0500

Thanks, nitPicker, duly noted. And I agree with the Boos. Why?

WT Economist

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 09:47:55 -0500

People need to realize that it is turning cars that run over pedestrians and cyclists. The streetscape of New York City makes it difficult to see -- especially if an SUV is parked at the corner. And lets face it, SUVs are more concerned about being hit by trucks or other SUVs -- a threat to them -- then running over children. They are looking left -- for another vehicle running the light -- not right -- for a pedestrian. I've taught my kids to look behind them when crossing the street. It is often more dangerous to cross with the light -- thanks to those turning right from behind you -- than against it! Particularly if you are small relative to the vehicle parked at the corner.

Peter

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 09:44:48 -0500

It appears to be a Hummer H2 from the overhead picture. The now-discontinued Hummer H1 was the civilian version of the military Humvee. The H2 is a basically a modified Chevrolet Suburban, not having much if anything in common with the Humvee.

nitPicker

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 09:14:04 -0500

Isn't it called a 'Hummer'? I thought only the genuinely military ones were called 'Humvee's'. Regardless, Boo on Hummer, and Boo on GM for pushing such an excessive, inefficient, and flat out dangerous machine.