Double-Decker Bus Pins Woman in Midtown

A New York bus tour turned grisly yesterday morning as a Gray Line double-decker bus struck a woman outside of the United Nations. Lolaa Alrashied was crossing 42nd St and was struck by the bus and pinned underneath. She is currently listed in serious condition, with leg fractures and trauma, at Bellevue Hospital.

Tourists on the bus and passers-by watched the events unfold with horror. One witness told the Post "The tourists were all in shock. They didn't even want to look. There was a mother who was shielding her daughter." Witnesses gathered and kept the driver from trying to move the bus as Alrashied lay stuck underneath, a few trying to comfort her before the ambulances arrived. The Post also has some crazy photos.

Company spokeswoman Cristyne Nicholas said, "Gray Line is fully cooperating with the police and they wish the woman a full recovery." When we called, Nicholas didn't pick up but the automated message on Gray Line's number reminded us that they had been given the Hotel Concierge Tourist Award for Best Tour Company this year.

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By Jaya Saxena in News on October 13, 2009 11:48 AM

Comments [rss]

helenholli

Gruesome photos. Amazing she survived.

oprice

And...she's still alive?

fixer

She's out of the crosswalk based on where she ultimately came to rest, but she may have been caused to moved as a result of the impact. It's clear the driver's side front tires went over her, which could have also caused body-roll. We just don't know.

S.K.

I meant Crackberry

S.K.

The solution here is simple:

Either ban these buses, and I know some NIMBY folks on Bleecker would love that.

OR

The jaywalking morons ought to put their Crackerry and iPod addiction on hold while crossing the street. And why do they wear sunglasses on a cold, cloudy day? Keep your eyes on the road!

DaleyGrind

Agreed about the sunglasses. I don't get it.

AnnaZed

Those photos are indeed hard to look at and I hope that Ms. Alrashied recovers. I am also no fan of tour buses, horrible things that they are.

That said, it would appear that she was crossing in the middle of the block instead of crossing at the light; that is to say stepping straight into traffic on 42nd St. in the middle of the day. Am I missing something here or is that not the case?

grandzu

The back of the bus is still IN the crosswalk, and her body appears to have been rolled by the front wheels of the bus out of the crosswalk.

Nyctini11

Those Gray Line buses and their operators are awful. When i was living up near port authority, and i consider myself a seasoned veteran of crossing NYC streets, these operators don't care, they cut corners to the point you need to back up even on the sidewalk a good 2ft. I have had several close calls with these buses.

Ritchie

I certainly hope she recovers fully - but it IS a bit hard to imagine that she wouldn't see a gigantic red bus bearing down on her. I'm constantly astounded, when driving in the city, by the utter lack of awareness by people crossing the street. It's as if they assume that they're surrounded by a magical force-field.

hotstepper

exactly. nearly every other person i pass on the sidewalk is screwing with their iPod, mindlessly texting, or blabbing away entirely too loudly. wake the fuck up techno-zombies.