Car Jumps Curb, Hits Pedestrians, Pins One on Steps of State Supreme Court

Above image from WNBC, below image from WABC

An out-of-control car jumped a curb on Centre Street and mowed down three pedestrians outside the State Supreme Court. According to NY1, the car "crashed into a coffee cart and continued up several steps of the courthouse," where one man was pinned under the car.

WNBC reports the man, who was "pinned from about the mid-chest down," was removed by emergency workers who used a power saw. He was thrown against a banister and apparently had a leg injury. Two other pedestrians had minor injuries and the driver of the Nissan Altima is being described as "incoherent" and "dazed." None of the injuries appear life-threatening. And the coffee cart vendor was unharmed.

The police have not charged the driver, who may have had a seizure. Some more pictures at WCBS 880.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on April 11, 2008 12:01 PM

Comments [rss]

eyekantspel

More congestion would have prevented this tragedy. If there had been a car or truck stuck right in front of him, it would have been hit. Instead, the lack of congestion allowed him to speed off onto the courthouse steps. Congestion saves lives.

stereotypical

Still a dumbass.

Albert Sharpton

maybe his leg will wind up on nothingtoxic.com

riotturtle

there definitely used to be big concrete highway barriers in front of there. i wonder where they went. bad timing, for sure.

bxbrian

whoa dude you spelled words with the letter S all craaaaaaaaayzeeee.

it look$ a bit $illy--do you work for the $limy New York Po$t?

Or d0 y00 ju57 l1k3 l337sp33k?

ihateallbrokers

gloomberg will $ay if congestion pricing wa$

pa$$ed and if big brother $urvelience $y$tem wa$

in place, then the driver would have taken ma$$

tran$it just because he cant afford $8, and if

you cant afford $8 then tough nuggie$, he would

have a $eizure on the $ubway and only ri$ked

falling on the track$ and hurting only him$elf

thats gloomberg's answer to everything...

Phil McCracken 222

Those brake lights look like they're from an Ultima sport package

bxbrian

i find that hard to believe, brokers.

ihateallbrokers

im sure gloomberg will somehow twist this around as a consequence of not approving his congestion pricing plan

blablanyc

Why aren't there barricades in front of the court house?

JenChungsBaby

It's like the scene from the Godfather that was filmed right there on those same steps.

I thought they had all kinds of car bomb barriers around there to keep trucks and such away from the buildings?

kenny000

Well I'm sure bollards will be going in now...

Phil McCracken 222

Comment 2 wins

Comment 16 right behind

Murray Hillster

More evidence that the "surge" is working in Iraq if this is the best they can do.

JacqueMehoff

sorry, bike lane on the right with those plastic reflecting barrels.

Gwinny

Unless this was his first seizure and he didn't know he had a problem, this guy is a supreme asshat for driving with this sort of condition.

JacqueMehoff

you can go pretty fast on that stretch. there are bollards on the left side, if I recall and a bike lane on the left.

Snoopy

Probably from Jersey.

fenris35

wow, i was just commenting last week how that building is the only one in the area not to have the concrete car stoppers or giant concrete flowerpots. I just assumed they assumed that the massive load-bearing pillars would stop a bomb-laden suv.

flynn110

@stereotypical

it states that the driver "...may have had a seizure" so calling him a "dumb ass" is hardly justified. this would also explain his not trying to stop and lack of skid marks.

matty

Jen was it an 88? Classic.

stereotypical

Dumb ass was probably going way too fast. How the hell did the car get that far? Doesn't really look like the driver tried to stop. Hard to tell from the pictures but I don't see skid marks...