Man Killed By Bus, Locals Say Intersection Is Dangerous

Yesterday morning a 22-year-old man was killed when an MTA bus struck him at the corner of West 53rd Street and 9th Avenue. He was rushed to Roosevelt hospital but was pronounced dead by 9:11 a.m.

The NY Post, which recently came down on jaywalking, confirms that he was "on the southbound avenue at 8:44 a.m. when he was hit by an express bus, which was making a left turn from West 53rd Street."

A witness told the paper, "The front of the bus hit him, and his legs went under the wheel." NY1 (which says the victim was a woman) notes that those familiar with the area regard it as a very dangerous intersection. One local told them, "That particular corner always has some accidents. All the cars travel very fast and there's too many buses using 53rd Street and they don't even look for pedestrians. I got hit about two months ago, and last month one lady got hit."

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

By Jen Carlson in News on November 5, 2009 9:52 AM

Comments [rss]

Clarice City

I said this exact thing yesterday:

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.

Reply | November 4, 2009 6:29 PM [ report this ] "

But then everyone bascially called me an asshole.

JacqueMehoff

all of 9th ave is dangerous.

cars and horses. that Hess station over on 10th is dangerous, too.

Mee is good and consistent in an area full of Thai restaurants. but I miss my fave szhechuan cottage type places, where are they?

Justine T.

Twice this year I've come THIS close to getting hit by vehicles making left turns (one was a bus, the other a police car!). Watch out, people! Especially those of you who talk on your phones or text while crossing the street.

http://chillonthecheap.wordpress.com/

s0me_g0d

"Locals Say Intersection Is Dangerous"

Someone should have told that to this kid.

Abbott

What a surprise! MTA bus drivers usually don't even slow down for pedestrians. They're as incompetent as the rest of MTA employees. I've had countless close calls with buses in Manhattan.

jibbly

Easy solution to slow down traffic at key points: Vigilante speed bumps, Staten Island style!

hta

buses routinely ignore red lights and most traffic rules so this comes as no surprise. either the mta has to start cracking down (yeah right) or the cops need to start ticketing bus drivers too.

and yeah, mee is pretty good.

ian

There must be a solution for this. why not using siren.

schadenfreudian mensch

Yea, the solution is watch both ways before you cross like momma always told you. How hard is that? Unless these people are completely blind or complete retards they completely ignore the rules of walking on the green and not in between.

S_R

If you are inferring that the guy hit by the bus was jaywalking, think about it. If the bus was making a left onto 9th, and he was crossing 9th, then they both had the light.

Regardless, I concur, 9th up in that area is scary to cross due to people making blind left turns onto it. I see the same thing happen on a bunch of the west avenues in the 50's. Check out 7th and 53rd. People just turn blindly onto 7th, and don't look at pedestrians in the crosswalk.