City Can't Be Blamed For Dumb Traffic Cop, Injured Pedestrian

Flickr user Triborough

An appeals court ruled yesterday that the city can't be held financially responsible for the actions of a traffic cop and their ensuing consequences. In 2006, Stella Lewis was crossing the street to Penn Station. She had the light, but a traffic cop waved a bus through its red light. The bus struck Lewis, causing her brain injury and the loss of three of her toes.

Lawyer Gail Kenner said, "This was a very busy, athletic woman who enjoyed life. Her life has been ruined." Her suit against NYCT and the bus driver will continue, but she won't be getting any money from the city. A report on a fatal bus accident in Hell's Kitchen last year said that the bus driver didn't "scan appropriately" for pedestrians. Good to know that's at least a rule!

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By Jaya Saxena in News on March 2, 2011 2:35 PM

Comments [rss]

Petey

This traffic agent waved the bus through. If she also used the hand motions to hold up the pedestrian, and the pedestrian disregarded the traffic agent, like they do to the signals anyway, then the pedestrian is at just as much fault, since the traffic agent would overrule any other mechanical traffic control.

I do however disagree that the city is not responsible for these actions of the traffic agent. I'm assuming she was assigned to direct traffic, so she was doing what she was told, and trained to do by the city.

Jan GoFoo

you fucking can't make this shit up, enough is enough time to set the order ourselves...

ahardy55

So the city is not responsible for it's employees? That makes perfect sense. That kind that doesn't.

Steven Harris

So the city sends out these goons and claim no responsibility for them? That makes me feel safe.

korper

Sorry, that should say "You can *watch* cops doing this..."

korper

You can cops doing this exact same thing every weekday rush hour along 34th Street, & I'm sure at countless other intersections around the city. It causes nothing but confusion to both drivers & pedestrians, & I'm surprised there aren't more injuries. Why not just let the traffic light do its work?

patsw

I don't know if it was true in this case, but traffic agents seem to take delight in blowing the whistle and waving cars through a red light while pedestrians are crossing the street with the green light without indicating to the pedestrians what's about to happen.