Investigation Called for After SUV's Fatal Collision with Vespa

Courtesy My Little O, via Streetsblog

Last night an unidentified 40-year-old woman died from head trauma sustained during a collision with an SUV Ford Explorer in Fort Greene around 5:30 p.m. Witnesses say she was heading west on DeKalb Avenue and making a right turn on Clinton Avenue when the SUV ran the red light heading north on Clinton. Initial accounts suggested that the driver was an undercover detective with the NYPD, and that the vehicle was equipped with police lights.

The NYPD press office tells us there was no criminality involved and the driver, who has not been identified, is definitely not NYPD. According to witnesses who were crossing the street, they tried to stop the woman, but she had earphones on, and hit the side of the Explorer head first. She was pronounced dead at Woodhill Hospital.

Fort Greene Council Member Letitia James is calling for an investigation into the incident, and has released a statement saying, "The individual driving the SUV has been neither identified nor placed under arrest by the NYPD. Additionally, it is believed that the driver is currently a member of a federal law enforcement agency. It is unclear whether this individual was traveling at the time in an official capacity...The NYPD must investigate the circumstances of this incident, and communicate openly with the victim's family, my office, and the community at large."

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By John Del Signore in News on July 9, 2010 4:40 PM

Comments [rss]

donewithny

anyone have any info on what the guy driving the car looked like?hasidic jews in the area love to put on thier flashing red lights as they rush to temple,get home before dark,you know,real important stuff.and the cops won't arrest them either,too much political pull.

neutral observer

Bingo! We have a winner. There is your answer.....

Certain groups have the NYPD wrapped around thier finger because when City Hall calls, they must comply. Happens in all city agencies. All citizens should be treated equally regardless of political infulence or funny costume they wear.

Gaelic47

A lot of the scooters that you see people riding around on (Honda Ruckus and Metro, Vespa Classic, Yamaha Zuma, etc) are marketed as 50cc's, but the engine is actually 49cc's. In most states, including NY, you do not need a motorcycle endorsement to ride vehicles under 50cc's on public streets. You just need a regular drivers license. Most have a top speed of approximately 40 mph, but some people trick out the engine to get them up to 50 to 53 mph.

But no matter what vehicle you're driving, getting hit by an SUV that's running a red light will fuck you up, regardless of whether you're wearing headphones or a helmet. I feel really bad for this woman and her family.

kromelizard

If only she'd been riding a bicycle, then nobody would call for an investigation on the SUV driver at all!

Bike Rider

i hate cars. this is why I'll wait till i get to Europe before riding a moped/scooter

longacre

BREAKING: There are cars and trucks in Europe.

Petey

Maybe the SUV took the light, maybe it didn't. The headphones (and apparently a lack of a helmet) with definitely part of the reason this became another fatal accident.

John L

Smells like a cover up! So who was this mysterious driver?

Anyone that drives anything in New York (bicycles included) should not impair their hearing with headphones. Even walking across the street with headphones requires extra looking. I see people all the time with headphones on and texting away, totally oblivious to their surroundings, walking in the street and even while crossing the street.

John L

Let me clarify that, I'm not saying it's the victim's fault at all. Obviously this mystery driver was at fault here but maybe, just maybe, she'd be alive today if she could have heard the bystanders' warnings.

Kelles

The bigger the SUV, the crappier the driver

eitan

why is there no mention in the story about whether the vespa driver was wearing a helmet? So much ado about earphones, but not one word about a helmet. Seems to me the presence or absence of one would be a more important factor here than an ipod.

2044297

She was wearing a helmet. I was a witness.

eitan

Thank you for clarifying that. It must have been some hit in that case. The ipod people - you can go back to blaming the earphones. Im sorry you had to see that.

Pålægpåtoppenafsmørrebrød

Don't drive or bike with headphones. I see this all too often, and it's incredibly dangerous. A car speaker system is different from having headphones sealing in your ear canals.

2044297

It was really awful. I was speechless and in shock for a bit after being around the scene. I didn't see the accident happen but I was nearby and ran back to help.