Pedestrian Killed in Hell's Kitchen Bus Collision

An out-of-service city bus hit and killed a 23-year-old who was trying to cross Ninth Avenue this morning. The victim, a Westchester resident, had been trying to dash across the avenue near the corner of West 53rd Street at 8:44 am when he was struck by a bus making a left turn, according to the Daily News.

"The pedestrian ran across the street and the bus was already making the turn," a witness told the paper. "He tried to beat the bus but he couldn't." Another onlooker "saw the bus pop up like it hit a bump" and tried to help the victim, who she described as "a young, hip, kid." The driver, she said, "was very shaken."

A police spokesman told Gothamist that the case is still under investigation and it remains unclear if there was any criminality in the collision.

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

By Ben Muessig in News on November 4, 2009 5:14 PM

Comments [rss]

brooklynmouthoff

I'm not claiming that Seth or the driver was in the wrong. But I will say this.

Someo of those MTA drivers are raging behind the wheel like friggin' aninmals. Just the other day, I had to run and jump out of the way of an MTA bus pulling out of a hub in Williamsburg. The driver was driving WAY too fast. A block down the road after the incident, he pulled over to a stop and I saw that he was irritated about something.

Is it too difficult for these genius bus drivers to drive and keep their emotions in check at the same time?

When I'm at my job, I have to perform well...so should everyone, no matter what the job is.

By the way, congratulations to the city truck driver that ran over a woman in a wheelchair today. idiots.

pencap75

idiot jaywalkers

now the retard family will sue the MTA (i.e. tax payers)

The 419 King

Right of way, schmight of way. That's for the ambulance chasers to decide.

Fact is you gotta be aware when you cross streets. You don't play chicken with tons of steel.

Clarice City

This took place right around the corner from my apartment and I ALWAYS see the city busses running red lights, making illegal turns and generally driving like maniacs. I've witnessed many near misses right on that corner and every time the lazy ass cops stand around and pick their noses while this goes on. It's a really crowded part of town with peds everywhere and the bus should never be going so fast that they can't stop from hitting a pedestrian. Shame on the driver. He's probably careening through town right now.

That poor man and his family. I will bet anything this was utterly avoidable.

CR

Exactly! If the driver had the light then it was the ped's fault. I'm all about pedestrian advocacy - but you take your chances against the light and sometimes you lose. The choice is yours.

AspieSociologist

Let's consider the following two things:

1. legally the pedestrian always has the right of way, especially in cross-walks. He was in the crosswalk.

2. If the bus had the light, and this is key, was making a turn, then actually, so did Seth. According to witnesses, just after he stepped off the curb the cross light switched from white person to blinking red hand, and he started to dash across the street. Thats when the bus, who was turning, hit him.

Lessons learned:

They both had the light. He had the right of way.

RIP, Seth.

s0me_g0d

Way to go! Blaming the bus driver before you even know the whole story.

gimme

here's the young dude pictured with another older dude who passed on too, two dudes gone before their time, dude

http://www.facebook.com/seth.kahn