Brisk Walking Saved New Yorker From Truck Crash

The badly injured survivor of the incident where a garbage truck ran onto a Midtown sidewalk, killing a vacationing British couple, figures his New York instinct to bypass slow-moving tourists ultimately saved his life. Hollis resident Abayomi Henderson told the Daily News he had just finished working out at a nearby gym when he saw Jacqueline Timmins and Andrew Hardie (pictured) on West 35th St. near 6th Ave. Tuesday night.

The British tourists were in NYC for a Valentine's Day getaway, and Henderson said they were meandering down the sidewalk, enjoying the sights, each other, and the evening, when he came up behind them. As New Yorkers are wont to do, he quickly circled around them when he heard the garbage truck careening onto the sidewalk crushing everything in its path.

Henderson awoke next to Jacqueline Timmins, who was dead. Andrew Hardie was also killed by the runaway truck. The Queens man only suffered a broken arm, hip, and toe.

While Henderson doesn't believe it was anyone's fault the accident happened, the garbage truck driver, Auvryn Scarlett, is being charged with manslaughter and reckless endangerment. Scarlett suffered a seizure behind the wheel of the Action Carting truck and admitted to not taking his anti-seizure medication for the last two weeks. Timmins' ex-husband believes that the U.S. should take advantage of its death penalty in this instance and execute Scarlett.

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By Dave Hogarty in News on February 16, 2008 10:05 AM

Comments [rss]

becky123

why are all americans full of such rubbish!!!!! YOU have some heart she has 4children who are absolutely devastated in what has happened, with it being so far away from home makes it more difficult for them to cope, her body hasnt even come home yet.

meohmyinthenyc

becky123, you seem to think that no other survivor or relative of someone who was killed doesn't think the same thing.

We don't know why he hadn't taken his medication. Try a little self healing before you lash out next time.

becky123

I am jackies ex sister in law and if you could see the state of her children then i am sure you would understand why we are calling for the death penalty, jackie was a wonderfull mother and a very beautifull lady, her 12year old daughter is totally devastated.

becky123

I am jackies ex sister in law and if you could see the state of her children then i am sure you would understand why we are calling for the death penalty, jackie was a wonderfull mother and a very beautifull lady, her 12year old daughter is totally devastated.

and65re

Ooops!

The guy was seriously injured. I thought he walked away unscathed because he walked fast.

My bad.

Maybe next time I'll read the article twice before I comment.

and65re

What exactly is the point of this story? That the tourists were killed because they walked slowly? That NYers should take pride in their tendency to walk fast?

I look forward to the upcoming feature on the guy who avoided being crushed by falling scaffolding because he dropped his garbage on the sidewalk rather than walking to the corner to throw it in a can.

Is 'not killed in an accident' now news?

and65re

What exactly is the point of this story? That the tourists were killed because they walked slowly? That NYers should take pride in their tendency to walk fast?

I look forward to the upcoming feature on the guy who avoided being crushed by falling scaffolding because he dropped his garbage on the sidewalk rather than walking to the corner to throw it in a can.

Is 'not killed in an accident' now news?

sj

Can you even get the death penalty for manslaughter in New York? I'm gonna guess that's a big no.

Without cracking open the state code I'd guess that you can probably only get death for murder (i.e. premeditated) and even then with aggravating circumstances.

Nice though to see the Brits don't support the death penalty unless someone they care about is killed. To be fair though, I'm sure the guy is plenty angry.