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Tragic News For Elderly Hit-And-Run Victim, 78-Year-Old
cbsnews.com — Doctors say the victim of a hit-and-run that was caught on videotape and viewed by a national audience will never breathe again without a respirator. Angel Arce Torres, who is at Hartford Hospital, also will never return home, a family member said. Torres was paralyzed from the neck down in the May 30 incident.
MookiBlaylock- 688 diggs
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- alapoet, on 06/11/2008, -4/+41Very, very sad.
- Vindicoth, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1I put myself in that situation and think that if it was my dad what would I do. I just don't know what I would do.
- oiooioio, on 06/11/2008, -1/+31I really hope they catch who did this .... I'm still really taken back that it seems like no one did anything besides just watch ... although I probably wouldn't be one to try to move the man but at least be in the street to assure he doesn't get hit again!
- MookiBlaylock, on 06/11/2008, -1/+10I couldn't agree more, your first instinct should be to help!
- invinciblechunk, on 06/12/2008, -4/+1Like Tom Cruise.
- Eunonia, on 06/12/2008, -0/+2Define help please. When it comes to accidents like this, you must not move the victim in anyway. Article says that within a minute there were calls about the accident. And if they did move the man, they could have caused him even more damage. Sure he is paralyzed from the neck down now, but they did not know. Plus in this culture a good Samaritan can be responsible for even more damage just because he is not a professional. Example: You see an accident where a woman is jammed in her car and the car is on fire. You will try anything you can to remove her from the car until paramedics or emergency services arrive assuming they arrive. You don't know but you are there and doing your best to remove her from her car. You succeed, she just has a minor concussion, but she is ok as you are prying open a jammed door. When all of a sudden fire increases near her and as you remove her, a side air bad unfolds and knocks her into the fire where she suffers 2nd degree burns. You saved her life, but now she will have large scars all over her body and the face too. You did nto mean it but she may sue you for negligence and sadly in America they will convict you. It;s the American ways and culture itself that creates that response. A while ago. drivers reported a girl walking down the road a lone. No one bothered to stop and find out why. All they would do is call and notify 911 about the location, time, and what they say. One lady pulled over and took her into her car and together they found the place where girls belongs. If this was a man, some people would say he is a pedophile, tried to abduct a child. IN the eyes of the law you are guilty even of you trying to help the child. So do not say no on helped. It's just you have to be very careful with hit and run victims. If the victim is conscious and can move on their own, help them slowly to move at least. If they are out do not move the body. Emergency services get on the scene quickly these days. As for the drivers of both cars, they must be punished. First one jail time for breaking traffic rules, second one for that, and on top of the hit and run. Maximum sentence, 10 years behind bars or whatever the state sets the term for things like that. In Russia, you will not get help at all these days. We have underground passageways to the other side of the street. Drivers try to stop, but many times do not because they do not want to cause a huge car pileup on the road, or simply do not care. 2 years ago when I was in Kiev, I saw a driver of a truck barely avoid an old woman who clearly knew she was not supposed to cross that spot. He managed to avoid splattering her body all over. Many drivers would just hit and continue to drive. So there you go. A small glimpse of why people may help and may not help. Would you help if you knew that there is a strong chance where the victim will blame you for further suffering, pain, and so forth just to get money from you? Remember you not obligated to help but people do because we are humans, must look after each other. Well that's what educated people do.
- Blandyman, on 06/12/2008, -0/+2Eunonia:
Unfortunately, you're very wrong.
Under the Good Samaritan Law, passed simply for this reason, any assistance given in good conscience, with proper intent, leaves you IMMUNE of any sort of liability.
Let's say that yes, if the emergency services arrived, they could have gotten her out burn-free, but obviously she would've inhaled a lot more smoke.
You jump in to save her, to make sure she's ok. Your scenario plays out, and she's burned.
That bitch can't do ***** except cry you a ***** river. You saved her life and the law says that you're attempted (and in this case, successful) rescue, regardless of other things, was good and makes you a good person and makes it impossible for you to be liable.
Very unfortunate, however, that you don't know this. And more so, a lot of people still think like you, that it's possible to get sued for trying to help someone, so a lot of people that can be saved, die because no one is willing to help them.
As long as you follow the guidelines (when performing CPR, you must first ask if the person is choking. If there is no response, or they nod, then you proceed. If they say they're not, you leave them be, obviously) for each method of life-saving, then you're 100% OK. There's not much you can do beside that.
But, even without the Good Samaritan Law, I'd still try and save any life that I could. They could sue me for my every penny, but you know what? I know theeir conscience will catch up to them... or I will to wring their neck ***** dry.
In the case of the child, you're supposed to stand in one spot in a public place and wait for the police to arrive. Woman or man, anyone can be a pedophile or child abductor or murderer or anything. It's non-gender-specific. However, you need to understand what's right... you take a child, that could be a drug addict or a complete con artist bitch or any number of bad things, into your car and drive around to find where he needs to go, and it could end bad. You stand in one spot and call the cops and wrestle that bitch to the ground if she won't tell you where her parents are, and it's OK.
- Blandyman, on 06/12/2008, -0/+2Eunonia:
- ferrariman60, on 06/12/2008, -0/+8Good, don't be the one to move him. That won't do any good, and it should be left to trained medical personnel to move injured people. Especially when there is a question of spinal/neck injury. You could kill the guy if you don't know what you're doing. The best thing to do in that situation would be to block traffic until trained help could arrive.
- bitterbug, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1A friend of mine had an accident on rollerblades a few years ago and smacked his head on the pavement. While he was lying there stunned beside the traffic lane people continued to drive by on one side, and pedestrians kept on walking by on the other.
Sometimes there just aren't any people that give a damn about others nearby. - DroogInPhoenix, on 06/12/2008, -1/+1I don't think it is as much that we have lost our moral compass, I think we are afraid to get involved. People have proved themselves sue-hungry, and police have proved themselves liars, murderers and thieves, to where we do not want to talk to the police for any reason... I do hope they catch the bastard.
- reyalp, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1If this were to happen in my hometown, I would be out looking for that driver every evening. Citizens arrest FTW.
- MookiBlaylock, on 06/11/2008, -1/+10I couldn't agree more, your first instinct should be to help!
- DeathWish808, on 06/11/2008, -3/+56From what I understand, within a minute after it happened 4 people had already called 911 and the others were afraid to move him for fear of hurting him worse. The driver of the car was the one who had no conscience, but it seems that everybody keeps talking about how the bystanders did nothing. The news report I saw showed different. People like that driver should be hanged. Obviously that have no regard for anybody else's life.
- Whackly, on 06/12/2008, -10/+7you don't have to move someone to check for a pulse or to put pressure on a bleed out or to reassure them
- Lavarock, on 06/12/2008, -4/+5He was MOVING. Why are you so adamant that someone touch the guy? It takes so little movement to cause further damage.
- Whackly, on 06/12/2008, -11/+3oh well.. he was moving. that changes everything.
eyeroll - centerblack, on 06/12/2008, -2/+101) Pressure on a bleed out? He wasn't ***** shot or stabbed. He got hit by a car. That means internal injuries, and some road rash. If he was bleeding from his head I'm sure people were just afraid to move him and make it worse.
2) Checking for a pulse??? Unless you're Haley Joel Osment, if he's moving and conscious then OBVIOUSLY, he has a pulse. (So yea, that does change things a bit doesn't it)
If this actually matters to you then maybe you should get into politics and campaign to make first-aid a required GE course for high school and college students.
The solution to most of life's problems is education.
- Whackly, on 06/12/2008, -11/+3oh well.. he was moving. that changes everything.
- Lavarock, on 06/12/2008, -4/+5He was MOVING. Why are you so adamant that someone touch the guy? It takes so little movement to cause further damage.
- siobhankeogh, on 06/12/2008, -2/+9The thing is that the bystanders didn't even approach or comfort him in any way. It's just common sense that if someone gets hurt, especially this badly, you ask them if they're okay even if it's obvious they're not. You sit with them and talk with them, reassure them if you can. No one did. That's what really bothers me.
- dougmc, on 06/12/2008, -1/+5Did you even watch the video? There was something like five people right around him by the time the police arrived. Ok, granted, nobody was sitting, but we really have no idea what was being said.
Also, the police arrived in 68 seconds. People were probably still getting over the `oh my God' shock at that point.
- dougmc, on 06/12/2008, -1/+5Did you even watch the video? There was something like five people right around him by the time the police arrived. Ok, granted, nobody was sitting, but we really have no idea what was being said.
- rbross2005, on 06/12/2008, -4/+9Are you all ***** dolts? How about blocking traffic off or geting close enough to at least look at him? Dumbasses, just calling 911 while you walk away isn't really good enough.
- dougmc, on 06/12/2008, -0/+4Did you even watch the video? The police arrived 68 seconds after the accident, and by that point he was surrounded by about five people. So yes, traffic was blocked, and yes, people were close enough to look at him (and talk to him, though we couldn't hear what was said.)
- rbross2005, on 06/15/2008, -0/+0Did YOU watch the video? he wasn't "surrounded" by 5 people - a group of people looked at him from just off the curb as cars continued to pass by him from both directions.
If I was there I would have stopped traffic from both directions - and I'm not trying to sound like a hero, thats just simple common sense - a guy's laying on the street not moving, maybe we shouldn't assume that a busy road of oncoming traffic will just go around...
- rbross2005, on 06/15/2008, -0/+0Did YOU watch the video? he wasn't "surrounded" by 5 people - a group of people looked at him from just off the curb as cars continued to pass by him from both directions.
- dougmc, on 06/12/2008, -0/+4Did you even watch the video? The police arrived 68 seconds after the accident, and by that point he was surrounded by about five people. So yes, traffic was blocked, and yes, people were close enough to look at him (and talk to him, though we couldn't hear what was said.)
- iheartcrack, on 06/12/2008, -1/+9The thing that really gets me is how people drove by, stopped, looked, and then kept driving. One guy coming from the opposite side actually does a ***** 3-POINT REVERSE TURN!!! Also, the guy right in front of the accident veers off to the right, then continued...HEY, YOU JUST WITNESSED AN ACCIDENT -- DON'T JUST DRIVE AWAY!!! All in all, a very sad incident for all involved.
- sx66gns, on 06/12/2008, -2/+6Look man , I'm not trying to be a dick but , MOST of the people down town are unskilled idiots , I've been in the unemployment line , I've been down there getting food stamps , I've even been on the corner making fast cash and decided it's time to change this cycle and met a wonderful woman with the same plans and we are both skilled productive people now , if there had been an EMT or Firefighter or a Nurse or a Doctor or other skilled emergency persons walking or driving by , then his needs may have been met , but if you have a bunch of burnouts without any skills other than gawking and clucking in slang about what's happening , this is what you get.
My wife is required by law to stop and render aid in emergency situations or she would lose her state license , I'm required by my Morals to stop and help anybody I see in need of help , The other day I was driving down the street and saw an old man trying to get a freezer out of his truck without any helping hands, I turned around and jumped out , helped him get it out of his truck and into his modest home , he looked me right in the eye and said "Thanks stranger , for doing what none of my kin folk had the time to do , Much obliged".Do something nice for someone tomorrow and our days may look brighter and for god sakes render aid to someone in need.- arcticblue, on 06/12/2008, -0/+2I really thought that was going to turn in to a Fresh Prince post there in the first paragraph.
- timsline, on 06/12/2008, -2/+1Someone should have gotten in that street to make sure he wasn't hit by another car. The guy was lying on the road and people just watched from the curb. It's sick.
They need to find both drivers involved.
- Whackly, on 06/12/2008, -10/+7you don't have to move someone to check for a pulse or to put pressure on a bleed out or to reassure them
- sogeshirts, on 06/11/2008, -2/+18What a tragedy I hate hit and run drivers
- chrgrose, on 06/12/2008, -2/+12:(
- mark076h, on 06/12/2008, -1/+25i hope they find that *****
- kuz2r, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1and when we find him we need to send him somewhere far cruel punishment. Family of the victim will see no justice. ***** you will get 5 years max
- EssPii, on 06/12/2008, -4/+28Good thing no one "helped him" (aside from calling 911 numerous times within a minute of the accident) like all those disgusted people were saying should have been done in the comments of the first story. Moving him would have made his situation even worse than it currently is.
- HastyBoom, on 06/12/2008, -4/+3I see your point, but the dood that hit him KEPT DRIVING.
- stuffradio, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1Well, they didn't even go up to him. There is a difference between "helping" and going up to talk and pull someone over to see if they're first aid trained.
- tehnico, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1Yeah, I think it's called shock.
- stuffradio, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1I don't know, it could be... but they just stood there, the one lady walked a few steps closer and then walked back to where she was...
- Ryan166, on 06/12/2008, -24/+5Looks like he won't be j-walking anymore.
- wukillabee, on 06/12/2008, -17/+1video or it didnt happen?
- wukillabee, on 06/12/2008, -2/+2im surprised i havent seen a gif on 4chan yet..
- foltaggio, on 07/11/2008, -0/+3http://digg.com/odd_stuff/Hit_and_Run_Victim_Gets_ ...
- SarahC, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1It's on Break.com, about 4 pages back.
- SirChaos, on 06/12/2008, -1/+8***** retarded, they better find the mother-***** and make sure that he eats life thru a straw.
- Mootabolife, on 06/12/2008, -1/+42My dad's car broke down on the Jackie Robinson pkwy and someone nailed him in the back causing him back problems from then on. Not caring, this person just drove away. Luckily we were able to find the bastard. Hit and runners are despicable people. They hurt someone and don't give a ***** about the person, all they care about is not having to pay for their stupidity. This is sad.
- insomniac8400, on 06/12/2008, -33/+1I have a huge problem with your statement. The damage to your father was an accident. And the damage was done. What would have changed if the person stopped? Oh that's right, nothing. I would also add that your father caused the accident, so why should the victim waste his time by stopping?
- kpne1home, on 06/12/2008, -0/+16Yes, his father caused the accident because he made his car break down on purpose... I cannot believe that you are sticking up for people who hit and run.
- illdourmum, on 06/12/2008, -0/+6he's prolly a hit-and-runner himself
- insomniac8400, on 06/13/2008, -0/+1If you stand on the side of the road on the white line for the lane of oncoming traffic, you're risking getting hit. No one makes people change tires on the side of a road, you can always call a tow truck. My point is, don't put yourself in a situation where someone could accidentally hit you and they try to call that person a monster or evil. Or try to say that person is obligated to help you, despite you putting yourself into the situation by choice, your victim did not get a choice.
- Mootabolife, on 06/12/2008, -0/+13The radiator leaked and cause the engine to stall... the JRP is a two lane highway without a shoulder. Maybe my dad should have gotten out to push and put his life in more danger.. bright idea. He was sitting and waiting for the police to come when the guy pummeled into him. Hundreds of other cars manage to avoid the stalled car, but this guy who was probably speeding and/or drunk/distracted didn't. This was no "accident".
So you think there is nothing wrong with hitting someone and not even caring if the person is alive or dead? Maybe you should get some sleep insomniac, because your view is very warped.- insomniac8400, on 06/13/2008, -2/+1You cannot say it was not an accident. Being drunk doesn't make an action purposeful. Did your dad have flashers on? Was it dark outside or light? Was it raining? And I would add the speed limit was not zero, he may have hit you from behind but a road is no parking lot. People who stop in the road don't get to claim a rear end accident wasn't their fault. Take care of your car and it won't die in the middle of the road.
- sykotik, on 06/12/2008, -0/+14You sir, take the crown for "Most Ignorant Reply Ever." You stop and take RESPONSIBILITY, that's what you do. What would it have changed for he or her to have stopped? Perhaps nothing? Perhaps everything? Who are you, in your extremely finite "wisdom," (I use the term wisdom so very loosely here) to say what could or could not have happened?
I was riding my bicycle once, not long ago, through a well lit parking lot, when suddenly I found myself flying through the air and then on the ground, hit by a vehicle I never saw coming, or even going. Did they stop to render aid? No. Did they stop to make sure I wasn't dead? No. Did they stop to piss on my lifeless body as it lay broken and bleeding in the lot? No. They did NOTHING.
And what did I do? I hobbled over 2 miles to my friends house who took me to the hospital and stayed with me for over 5 hours while I was checked out to make sure I was ok.
How do you know the damage to his or her father was an accident? How do you know what would have changed had the person stopped? You are completely ignorant, you lack judgment and character, you are an abscess, a pustule not worthy to be rubbed out of existence. Rather, you are to be left to be ridiculed and laughed at, to be teased and prodded, until you're nearly at the bursting point, painful and sore and swollen, and then left alone to suffer under the weight of your own existence.
You are a fool, and no one, save myself, will take the time to tell you so, because it isn't worth the time it would take to reply to your completely empty, null, and void, statement.
Stay in school young one, and perhaps one day, you'll amount to more than just a waste of sperm and DNA. Though, I find that scenario highly unlikely.
And even if you are a troll, read what I wrote, and learn the TRUE art of ripping the emotions out of people you've never met, never will, and are too cowardly to face in person. Your "Fischer Price" attempt makes me laugh so hard, I vomit.- sparrowkc, on 06/12/2008, -0/+7*applause*
- cathpah, on 06/12/2008, -0/+2you go girl!
- insomniac8400, on 06/13/2008, -3/+1I bet the driver who hit you was real happy that a person on a bike was going through a parking lot(MEANT FOR CARS!). Being the victim they left. You cannot cause an accident and expect your victims to bend over backwards for you. And by what you wrote, you clearly are blaming the driver because the parking lot was "well lit". That driver clearly did the best thing to protect themselves from frivolous charges. They left. Now you have no choice but to blame yourself as you have no escape goat. Justice was served. I just don't get why so many people think it's ok to blame the victims in traffic accidents.
- kpne1home, on 06/12/2008, -0/+16Yes, his father caused the accident because he made his car break down on purpose... I cannot believe that you are sticking up for people who hit and run.
- insomniac8400, on 06/12/2008, -33/+1I have a huge problem with your statement. The damage to your father was an accident. And the damage was done. What would have changed if the person stopped? Oh that's right, nothing. I would also add that your father caused the accident, so why should the victim waste his time by stopping?
- woofers07, on 06/12/2008, -2/+14Although it sucks that most likely no one will get to enjoy seeing karma bite this d-bag in the ass, really really hard, I guarantee it WILL happen.
- centerblack, on 06/12/2008, -1/+1in my experience karma doesn't always work like that.
Of course, there's always the great equalizer. We all die eventually. Immortality wouldn't be fair would it? - pagno, on 06/12/2008, -0/+3For every action, there is a reaction. Karma works much like Newtons Law, but its not always proportionate. The driver will get theirs, they always do.
- MalenfantX, on 06/12/2008, -0/+0Too bad Karma, and the supernatural in general, are imaginary.
- centerblack, on 06/12/2008, -1/+1in my experience karma doesn't always work like that.
- dragtre, on 06/12/2008, -0/+8"Arce said he refuses to watch the video depicting his father's accident and is only interested in seeing the driver brought to justice."
I wish I had done this. Sickening.- iamanalog, on 06/12/2008, -0/+9you wish you hit the old guy?
- MusicMagi, on 06/12/2008, -1/+6He was struck by one of two cars that crossed the center line.
Some people just really don't care about anyone except themselves. Please drive safely everyone. Don't cross into incoming traffic unless entirely necessary and if you strike a human being with your car, have the decency to stop and seek help. We're talking about a human's life here. We're in America, not a 3rd-world war-torn nation.- shawn1122, on 06/12/2008, -0/+2Doesn't matter if you're in America or not, everyone should have the decency to stop and seek help when a human's life is at risk in a situation like this one.
- GoKings, on 06/12/2008, -0/+7How could anyone just drive away from something like that? How can they live with themselves?
- why3th, on 06/12/2008, -0/+3Fairly easily, most likely. They more than likely blame the man for being in the middle of the road, and not their crossing across the lanes. Transferring the blame from themselves to the victim relieves them of guilt.
- nedy78, on 06/12/2008, -0/+5One of the worst things I've ever seen. Dude never even slowed down.
- insomniac8400, on 06/12/2008, -3/+2Dude might not have been paying attention and the initial hit was probably an accident. Supported by the fact he didn't slow down. And after hitting the guy he did what anyone afraid of being charged for a crime from an accident would do, run.
- Whackly, on 06/12/2008, -0/+3and that makes it ok? wtf
- tehnico, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1You haven't been around the internet for long have you.
- insomniac8400, on 06/12/2008, -3/+2Dude might not have been paying attention and the initial hit was probably an accident. Supported by the fact he didn't slow down. And after hitting the guy he did what anyone afraid of being charged for a crime from an accident would do, run.
- hokie47, on 06/12/2008, -0/+15I look at the car wishing that I somehow had superhuman powers to make out the license number to help bust this *****.
- Whackly, on 06/12/2008, -12/+6holy *****! i just watched the video. after it happened nobody went to help. the people on the sidewalk just kept walking! it took 30 seconds for a crowd to form and they didn't try to help they just stood there looking at him! connecticut has just replaced west virginia as the festering boil on the cellulite ridden sweaty ass cleavage of the united states. i'm completely blown away.
- Lavarock, on 06/12/2008, -5/+2THIRTY SECONDS OH MY
- pilot3033, on 06/12/2008, -2/+6someone who has just been in a major accident like that...you're not supposed to move them, it could make things much worse than they already are. Form a crowd, call 911, but never move someone that injured unless they are in serious danger from something else. For example, if you are trying to help someone in a burning car wreak, you get them out and away from the car, then worry about immobilization. If they are already well clear of the car, you tell them to lie still and get an ambulance.
- Whackly, on 06/12/2008, -0/+3who said anything about moving him? what about putting pressure on a bleeding wound? telling them to hang in there because an ambulance is on the way. what about just being there as a compassionate human being to hear their last words, if they should speak them. just because you're not supposed to move someone doesn't mean you check for a pulse or hold their hand or.... anything. "you aren't supposed to move them" is just the cheap excuse that a douche bag uses to obfuscate his cowardice.
- Konrad9, on 06/12/2008, -0/+10Wow...
My state sucks. - aussieNickuss, on 06/12/2008, -2/+11The only bastard in this story is the driver (oh and maybe that scooter rider, but not so much). It didn't take long for bystanders to start congregating around (preventing other cars from hitting him) and obviously some people were quick to call the emergency services, because that cop car was there pretty damn fast. I was told in school, if ever somebody is injured in such a way (hit by a car, fallen from somewhere etc.) DO NOT TOUCH THEM. If you do, you run a really high risk of paralysing them. You leave it up to the paramedics to do the hero thing.
- patpl22391, on 06/12/2008, -0/+3The cop was there on a unrelated incident. He came over once he saw what was happening.
- insomniac8400, on 06/12/2008, -1/+12I don't understand, what were bystanders supposed to do? People called 911. Touching an injured person without knowing what you are doing is never a good idea. I wish these people complaining that no one helped would just say what they wanted the bystanders to do to "help". I have a feeling they actually don't have any idea.
- Kev585, on 06/12/2008, -1/+2People are complaining because the bystanders dialing 911 are no where to be seen, the man is left in the road for the most part. There was no worry of moving him, no one went to check on him, cell phone in hand or otherwise. The complaints are over the seemingly lack of empathy exhibited here. I would have been out in the middle of the street taking directs from 911 immediately.
- insomniac8400, on 06/13/2008, -0/+1That is stupid, 911 wouldn't tell you to do anything but wait for help. As they don't want to be sued by having an unqualified person telling another unqualified person to do something that could cause more injury. But if all the bystanders see 4 other people on the phone calling, why would they also call? You only need 1 person to call to get things done. Multiple calls for the same accident I am sure probably causes more problems.
- Juice7, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1Stand next to the poor man and wave their arms above their head so he doesn't get flattened by another car?
- insomniac8400, on 06/13/2008, -0/+1Did you watch the video, a lot of people stand next to him.
- Kev585, on 06/12/2008, -1/+2People are complaining because the bystanders dialing 911 are no where to be seen, the man is left in the road for the most part. There was no worry of moving him, no one went to check on him, cell phone in hand or otherwise. The complaints are over the seemingly lack of empathy exhibited here. I would have been out in the middle of the street taking directs from 911 immediately.
- runnernerd, on 06/12/2008, -0/+4I'm somewhat surprised that this is the only footage; the vehicle must have been caught by other security or traffic cams while fleeing.
- duckiedeity, on 06/12/2008, -0/+4Wow, that's incredible... how sad...
- seastobble, on 06/12/2008, -7/+3I don't know why the hell everyone stood around after the fact and didn't offer some help. Pretty pathetic.
- HastyBoom, on 06/12/2008, -4/+2What if moving him made it worse. What if someone moved him and he ended up dieing as a result? Big time law-suit.
- bas4ball, on 06/12/2008, -0/+3I was in agreement with your comment until you mentioned lawsuit. The potential of being sued should not be the deterrent in this case, but the fact that moving the victim may injure him further.
- HastyBoom, on 06/12/2008, -0/+2I once called the cops for (for not on) a guy that fell asleep in his car. The car was running and his foot was slammed on the gas.
All in all everything turned out fine (good thing I called the cops) but the FIRST thing the cop asked me was, "Did you touch him?" - HastyBoom, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1I dunno where you live but where Im from ppl are freaking sue happy. Especially poor ppl.
just sayin.
- HastyBoom, on 06/12/2008, -0/+2I once called the cops for (for not on) a guy that fell asleep in his car. The car was running and his foot was slammed on the gas.
- Whackly, on 06/12/2008, -0/+5cop out.
also.. good samaritan protection laws - HastyBoom, on 06/12/2008, -2/+1Whatever. You know what? If you get hit by a car its your own damned fault. Even if the car is on the wrong side of the road.
Look both ways.
- bas4ball, on 06/12/2008, -0/+3I was in agreement with your comment until you mentioned lawsuit. The potential of being sued should not be the deterrent in this case, but the fact that moving the victim may injure him further.
- seastobble, on 06/12/2008, -0/+3There wouldn't be a law suit. You think family member would sue? It wouldn't even hold up in court. Anyone can be CPR certified as well, and the first thing you learn is to check the scene for danger. If it's ok, and they're conscious (which in this case, they weren't), you tell them you're certified and check their pulse/breathing, if they allow. But take into account the person being unconscious and there is an absolute duty that you should feel as a fellow human to help the person. There's a law here in Texas that actually makes it illegal for a pedestrian that sees a car wreck to drive by and do nothing, and same goes for any emergency; it frees them from liability as well.
http://www.texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=2107- HastyBoom, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1I never advocated "doing nothing".
- HastyBoom, on 06/12/2008, -4/+2What if moving him made it worse. What if someone moved him and he ended up dieing as a result? Big time law-suit.
- Scotty87, on 06/12/2008, -4/+1 just heart breaking =(
- Whadabala, on 06/12/2008, -1/+2I'm sorry man. Hopefully he led a happy life.
- soccernamlak, on 06/12/2008, -0/+3I do not know how a hit and run driver could live with oneself knowing that they destroyed a man's live on their conscience.
- CloseYetFar, on 06/12/2008, -1/+9WOW, I just saw the video. It kinda reminded me of GTA. Someone gets hurt or killed and everyone just continues on their way. They all seemed mindless or something. So inhuman.
- why3th, on 06/12/2008, -0/+0They called 911 and did what they could, supposedly.
- pentalive, on 06/12/2008, -0/+0we are becoming the Eloi.
- HastyBoom, on 06/12/2008, -10/+5Very tragic. But this is why you should always use a cross-walk. The dood shouldn't have been in the street. He gambled and lost.
- Kev585, on 06/12/2008, -0/+2He was in the street long enough to be seen before being struck.
- Whackly, on 06/12/2008, -2/+4pedestrians, even those jaywalking, always have the right of way.
- GlitchEnzo, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1Sorry but no. One of my friends hit a kid who went running out in the street to chase a ball. It was determined that the accident was the kid's fault. There is no way my friend could have stopped in time. Also, I may be wrong, but I thought in some countries pedestrians do NOT have the right of way. Ireland maybe?
- Whackly, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1if your friend had been drving on the wrong side of the road he'd be in jail. nobody blames a driver for an accident they couldn't avoid. there are exceptions to nearly every rule. that doesn't change the fact that the laws in the US say that pedestrians gemerally have the right of way.
- GlitchEnzo, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1There is no US law about pedestrians. It is determined on a state by state basis.
In this particular case, the Connecticut driving manual states "The law says who must yield the right-of-way. It does not give anyone the right-of-way." and "Drivers must yield the right-of-way at all times to pedestrians who are in a marked or unmarked crosswalk."
So, since that man was not in a crosswalk at all, I would say it is 100% his fault he got hit. That doesn't change the fact that the driver is a horrible person for running off after hitting the old man. I am simply stating that if he had stayed, it would not have been his fault. - pagno, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1It all depends on the state, county, and even down to city levels. Everywhere is different. However, driving on the wrong side of the street is illegal everywhere.
- GlitchEnzo, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1Sorry but no. One of my friends hit a kid who went running out in the street to chase a ball. It was determined that the accident was the kid's fault. There is no way my friend could have stopped in time. Also, I may be wrong, but I thought in some countries pedestrians do NOT have the right of way. Ireland maybe?
- rowlodge, on 06/12/2008, -4/+2my guess is, this driver was either an illegal alien, (which happened to me) ,or he had a warrant out for his arrest already. thats pretty selfish but true.
- bxblox, on 06/12/2008, -0/+4could also be expired/suspended/no license, no insurance, too many points on his license, had been drinking and didn't want to take the dui charge, on probation, or just an ***** in general
- bas4ball, on 06/12/2008, -2/+5Or he could have a been a perfectly legal American with no compassion for his fellow mankind. Blaming illegal immigrants for a hit-and-run accident like this is unreasonable, even if you take into account "your accident." Basing your opinion of an entire population on one unfortunate experience is completely unfair to the hardworking and honest men and women of that population.
- rowlodge, on 06/12/2008, -2/+1until you have to pay $700 dollars damage this will make you think twice about that.
- jshhmr, on 06/13/2008, -0/+0You mean the illegal population? They are law breakers automatically. Look at the statistics. There was a car chase here in DFW a couple of weeks ago. A simple traffic stop turned into a high speed chase through residential neighborhoods with no regard for whom he might hit. Turned out, he was illegal with a history of crimes, but continually released to commit more crimes against the population. Remember, over 70,000 Americans have died at the hands of illegals since 9/11.
- pcfunk, on 06/12/2008, -3/+1I weep for America. Probably did'nt want to stop for the mere inconvenience of filling out a police report. Perhaps he was here illegally. Who knows. Its just sad.
- fugazied, on 06/12/2008, -0/+3The bystanders should have at least walked onto the road to make motorists aware of the person lying on the road. They didn't appear to even check his status, if he was conscious etc. Just after it happened another car attempted to cross the line, but just saw him in time. The douchebag on the motorbike was the worst, drives around to check it out then takes off.
- djcreamy, on 06/12/2008, -2/+9Found it on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wl5qRq0hgE&feature ...
Moral of the story: use a crosswalk.- KaJuN4, on 06/12/2008, -0/+2I know it might sound cruel but I place most of the blame for this on the old man. If he had obeyed the law and used the crosswalk none of this would have happened. You can't just walk out into a street and expect to be safe or expect to be blameless if something does happen. If I'm driving and illegally go out into oncoming traffic causing an accident it's my fault. So why shouldn't it be my fault if I did the same thing while walking?
- KameleonZero, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1I agree with you guys. Yeah, those two cars were doing some illegal driving but a 78 year old man should know better than to just cross a street. Cars were coming and he wasn't at a crosswalk.
People try to save a minute or two of time and just randomly cross a street, figuring cars will stop for them. We are responsible for our own actions.
- KameleonZero, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1I agree with you guys. Yeah, those two cars were doing some illegal driving but a 78 year old man should know better than to just cross a street. Cars were coming and he wasn't at a crosswalk.
- TheBSG, on 06/12/2008, -0/+2It's a good thing they got that black guy at the end admitting negligence, otherwise I would have never believed it.
- KaJuN4, on 06/12/2008, -0/+2I know it might sound cruel but I place most of the blame for this on the old man. If he had obeyed the law and used the crosswalk none of this would have happened. You can't just walk out into a street and expect to be safe or expect to be blameless if something does happen. If I'm driving and illegally go out into oncoming traffic causing an accident it's my fault. So why shouldn't it be my fault if I did the same thing while walking?
- inajiffy, on 06/12/2008, -2/+3An excerpt from yesterday morning's Hartford Courant article by Susan Campbell, "Hartford Bashers: Step Up or Shut Up"
"When the second of two cars swerving to the wrong side of the road hit Torres, at least four people called 911. In Hartford, residents don't always think of the police as Officer Friendly. Then, too, the fear of gang retribution makes any crime, any aberration, something to avoid. Yet four people quickly called.
And rather than factoring in the shock that a bystander would feel aWhether you are the praying type, it is the worst kind of science to judge a society through the prism of one person's failings — say, the driver of the car that hit Torres, or the scattered people who didn't run to the fallen man's side to hold his hand. As Doucot says: Do you really want to kick a city that's already down? Why?t seeing an elderly man sent flying through the air — a good man known in the neighborhood for his kindnesses, the haters decided that Hartford residents are heartless and worse.
Please don't pretend to understand a city by standing at the property line or by driving through it with your windows rolled up. From that remove, you wouldn't see the dozen kids who showed up in Sunday's sweltering heat at the St. Martin de Porres Catholic Worker community house in Hartford's North End. Those kids met to ride bikes in the Jim Calhoun Cancer Challenge Ride.
And earlier, you wouldn't have seen Hartford students build the multi-story stairwell on the back of the Purple House, where on Monday morning community founder Christopher J. Doucot stood fixing a broken door. The day before, Doucot sent an e-mail to friends and supporters calling attention to the hateful online commentary after a city shooting. In his e-mail, Doucot asked that name-calling be replaced with prayer.
Whether you are the praying type, it is the worst kind of science to judge a society through the prism of one person's failings — say, the driver of the car that hit Torres, or the scattered people who didn't run to the fallen man's side to hold his hand. As Doucot says: Do you really want to kick a city that's already down? Why?"
Read the whole article here: http://www.courant.com/features/columnists/hc-susa ... - mothraStewart, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1I've seen this video on a few different social and news sites and I still haven't seen why the cars were swerving into the other lane. Does anyone know? The first time I saw it I thought it was a one-way street, but then you see cars coming down it the other way. It doesn't make any difference. I'm just curious. I'm sure when I find out, I'll end up being even more upset.
- stillblue, on 06/12/2008, -0/+0It is believed that they were racing each other
- HumanRecall, on 06/12/2008, -2/+1very sad indeed.....but you must consider a women of 78 yrs old woudl have experiance and knowledge that Jay Walking is not only illegal but a deadly game of cat and mouse when crossing a road/street without proper pedestrian signals and or crosswalks -now she will either die soon from her mistake or live out her last remaining years a paralyzed living in the intensive care unit -all because she decided to jay walk !
The hit was not intentional but once the person continued driving away was an area of law that has to be penalized for but also far as i'm concerned the bystanders are just to blame as well for not helping !! The driver woudl not have seen her when he hit here - that person no doubt panicked and fled but that doesn't change the fact of the accident or it's out come !
Yet the bystanders watch , pointed took pics /videos etc while other cars in the remaining traffic tried to dodge and go around her body- haikuFU, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1Are you retarded?
- HumanRecall, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1***** you..Japan!!
haven't you got some cats catch and eat or don't u eat what your serve ?
- HumanRecall, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1***** you..Japan!!
- haikuFU, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1Are you retarded?
- scoottie, on 06/12/2008, -1/+3the person who hit that guy shouldn't get a trail or anything just shoot the *****
- JonTheGoose, on 06/12/2008, -1/+3You know, it's ***** like this that pisses me off. Any one of us could be walking down the street minding our own business being totally rational human beings, not doing anything stupid like that kid who agreed to get hit by a car for 5 dollars, when some brain-dead idiot could come flying out of nowhere and ***** wipe us out like this poor bastard. Sometimes when i'm walking on the sidewalk I just glare at strangers and quietly think to myself "Which one of you mother ***** has got my number?"
- Photokon, on 06/12/2008, -1/+1How come no one got in the street to stop traffic or to talk to the guy? Great, everyone talks on their cell phone to 911 as an unaware driver runs the old man over. Hello! I don't think your cellphone can stop a blind old bat from possibly killing the man.
- azntiger1000, on 06/12/2008, -0/+2RIP. I hope you get your justice! Damn you hit and runners!
- sat0shi, on 06/12/2008, -4/+8Not to be a heartless bastard, but wasn't the old guy walking in the middle of the street? Obviously there was something blocking the other cars from going down the right side of the road, and they had to swerve. I doubt that anyone would just deliberately run over an old man walking in the middle of the street, so something must have been blocking the drivers view. Notice how the old man was almost hit by another car once already before the second driver really hit him.
Now, not to defend the hit and runner at all, but think about this. You're driving down the street and out of nowhere a child runs out in front of you. You try to swerve and miss but you can't and you hit the child. If you stay and do the "moral" right thing, you will still be thrown in prison for "negligence" even though technically there was nothing you could do. (Even if you were driving the speed limit, you probably wouldn't be able to get out of the way depending on the circumstances, so let's assume you are doing everything according to the law.) Unfortunately, people will always side with the person who got hit in the street, not the driver, and your ass will end up in prison for a few years (or more). This is probably exactly what the driver of that car thought and that's why he didn't stop. IF you could get away with just having to pay for the person's hospital bills or something, maybe he would've thought differently, but going to prison can be a pretty strong factor in swaying one's "moral compass" when trying to decide if you want to run or stay. I still don't really know why people get thrown in prison for this type of accident, and I've stated this before in other threads. Why can't they just take the driver's license away for a few years, or something equivalent? How does throwing a person that causes this type of accident actually benefiting society? In the end, the taxpayers have to pay for another mouth to feed and another person's life is ruined. Just because a person may have ruined another person's life due to an ACCIDENT (note, ACCIDENT, not intentional) does not mean that their life should be ruined as well. Oh well, just my opinion.- KaJuN4, on 06/12/2008, -0/+2You hit upon the exact reason I hate driving through urban areas. Even if a pedestrian is breaking the law by jaywalking, if I hit them the accident WILL be my fault. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. What's really sad is that we're tougher on drivers hitting jaywalkers (the ones breaking the law and creating the dangerous situation in the first place) than we are on drunk drivers.
- wilywampa, on 06/12/2008, -1/+0There was clearly nothing on the right side of the street blocking the two cars that sped by. Before those cars went by two other cars drove past on the right going slower. I would bet the drivers of the two speeding cars were friends of each other and speeding through town just because they were stupid assholes. Watch how after the car hit the guy, they both made the same right turn at the intersection up ahead. It's not like the old guy ran out into the street. If the two cars weren't driving recklessly, a man cautiously entering the street wouldn't have been a problem.
- stillblue, on 06/12/2008, -0/+0Maybe it's just me, but when you are required to go into the oncoming lane of traffic, one slows down and proceeds with great caution and doesn't just blindly drive into the lane (regardless of speed). Aside from that, not all people who have hit someone has gone to prison, if the road was honestly blocked and they had to go in that lane they could probably almost "get away" with it. However, taking off is flat out against the law and makes it even harder to defend any sort of innocent accident. Obviously they weren't gunning to run over the guy, but it is clear that they were driving impatiently and because of that, it was reckless behavior and they clearly knew this.
- Paulish, on 06/12/2008, -0/+2Note to self: Use camera phone to capture license plate when I see this stuff go down.
- fef560, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1good luck with that
- MalenfantX, on 06/12/2008, -0/+0The camera on your phone must be a lot faster than mine.
- theportmeister, on 06/12/2008, -1/+2the saddest part of this story is they're actually going to keep the the poor victim alive, had this happened to me i would have wanted them to pull the plug or better yet, leave me to die on the street... really...
- KaJuN4, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1Same here. Being kept alive hooked up to a machine isn't living. I've told my family that if I'm in a situation where that's necessary and the outlook isn't good, just go ahead and pull the plug. It will hurt at first but in the end it will be easier on everyone.
- brenan999, on 06/12/2008, -2/+1well he was 78... not much life to live anyway
- isimon42o, on 06/12/2008, -0/+0The guy knows exactly who he is, I'm sure hes having a hell of a time with all this news coverage.
- JAFFA, on 06/12/2008, -0/+2Cant help thinking that there are some American posters that are completely wrong. Its got bugger all to do with people in that particular state or the fact that they are American. This transcends national boundaries. This kind of thing is an INTERNATIONAL disgrace. It happens increasingly around the world.
Humanity is losing its humanity. - Escamotage, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1What's the point of having these surveillance cameras if they can't even catch the friggin' license plates??
- drazen77, on 06/12/2008, -0/+1I feel for the guy but... why has no one asked why he was crossing the street at an angle and not at a crosswalk with the pedestrian light @ green?
Seems to me that this guy is at least partially responsible for his current situation. When will people realize that even though the majority of people will make an effort to not hit someone, it isn't a gaurantee. I've seen people walk out in front of me while I am driving with the absolute expectation that I will be able to stop (or that I even will stop). Thats just insane. Vehicle on the road has the right of way in all instances except @ crosswalks and only if the lights say give the pedestrian the right of way even then.
Pedestrian and cyclists... lock and load. You are responsible for your own safety, gtfo of the way. Vehicle > individual on the road.
I already know that I am in the minority in my opinon on this but, as I said, I feel bad for the guy but its a tradegy that could have been easily avoided had the person been more careful with their own life. I never trust my life at the hands of a complete stranger, especially one behind the wheel. Pilots and taxi drivers exluded... necessary evils ... - iamthenoise, on 06/12/2008, -0/+0^ cyclists belong on the road, not the sidewalk. they have every right to ride "in the street". try hitting one, and see who the law sides with. in fact, in many cities, its against the law to ride a bike on the sidewalk.
- corikotop66, on 06/13/2008, -0/+0I agree no one should move the person, but someone could have aleast went to him and let him know help was coming.Instead they just stared at him and watch more cars almost hit him.
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