Pregnant Traffic Agent Hit by Van, Killed by Bus

An awful tragedy unfolded in the Bronx yesterday afternoon: A 33-year-old traffic agent was crossing 188th Street at Webster Avenue when a "runaway van" hit her. Donnette Sanz was propelled into the path of a school bus, and she was pinned underneath. A witness told NY1, "The van had hit the lady first, she flipped over. And the bus had got in the way, and hit her and ran her over."

About thirty people rushed to the scene to lift the bus off the 7-months-pregnant woman. Emergency workers took her to St. Barnabas Hospital, where doctors were able to deliver her baby boy--3 pounds, 6 ounces--but could not save Sanz. Police arrested the van's driver, Walter Walker, 72, who was charged with criminally negligent homicide. Walker, who was also charged with driving without a license (he's been arrested for that twice before), remained at the scene and claimed his brakes failed.

Witnesses were aghast at the accident, but also came together to help Sanz. A stay-at-home mom spoke to the Daily News, "I ran out of my house to join 10 people trying to lift up the bus," while a construction worker told the Post, "Twenty of us started lifting up the bus - about 10 more came to help. We didn't really communicate, we all just started lifting. We lifted it up and someone pulled her out. It's amazing that all those people came out and helped. It's good to see people still care."

Mayor Bloomberg visited with the family and told reporters, "It is a terrible poignancy that Donnette’s son’s birthday will now coincide with the day his mother died," he said. "I hope that as this child grows up, he comes to understand that his mother gave her life in service to our city, and that we are forever grateful." Police Commissioner Ray Kelly added, “Traffic enforcement agents are among the most important and least appreciated public servants."

The baby, who is in neo-natal ICU, is named Sean Michael. Sanz's sister said, "She got the baby's [sonogram] picture on Sunday. She said all she's living for is her baby."

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By Jen Chung in News on August 15, 2008 9:39 AM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

God how awful. I hope she's at peace.

Toby von Meistersinger

The van that hit her had Mississippi plates and was owned by the perp's brother. Dollars to donuts says that van is illegally registered.

JRod5417

According to the Post, she was on administrative duty and was crossing the street on her way to lunch when she was hit. She wasn't actually directing traffic at the time.

DarkGemini

@[4] Did you even RTFA?

"My brakes went out as I was coming from Valentine [Avenue]," van driver Walter Walker, 72, told The Post before cops picked him up. "The light turned red, and I couldn't stop . . . I tried to miss her.

She was crossing the street going to lunch when the old man blew the light and struck her. How is any of this her fault? Not to mention, again from TFA:

Sanz, who was on administrative duty because she was seven-months pregnant, was crossing 188th Street at Webster Avenue on her way to lunch[snip]

Maybe you should get all the facts before you go running off at the mouth.

That said... my condolences to the families involved in this tragic loss.

Jen S

Situations like this, when the public runs to help a stranger in need, restore my faith in humanity.

Peter

And of course The Post comes in with a classy headline as usual...

Not to mention incorrect. It wasn't 30 men, there was at least one woman, and probably more.

UnrepentantFenian

Stay classy NY Post.

Meter maids are only important in so far as they generate revenue for the city by screwing people over for a living.

Everyone is in the wrong here. From the 72 year old with no license to the city for making a pregnant woman stand in an intersection and screw up traffic. To the TEA herself who wasn't paying attention.

The tragedy is the loss of life and the parentless child.

books

Its tragic cause she was a human being -

this quote was unnecessary and not really true “Traffic enforcement agents are among the most important ..... public servants."

JRod5417

Even if this guy's brakes failed, he should get prosecuted to the max for continuing to drive with a suspended license. My condolences to the family and hope the baby survives without any physical repercussions.