Developing: Pedestrian Struck at 8th and Carroll
This just in from a tipster…A pedestrian was struck, and is possibly dead, from being hit by an SUV at the intersection of 8th and Carroll this morning. I have heard reports that are not confirmed from a news source that I have that it’s a male in his 50’s. It is not a hit…
This just in from a tipster...A pedestrian was struck, and is possibly dead, from being hit by an SUV at the intersection of 8th and Carroll this morning. I have heard reports that are not confirmed from a news source that I have that it’s a male in his 50’s. It is not a hit and run since the vehicle is still on the scene. It’s windshield is smashed up. Sadly this is the same intersection (same side of the street and everything) where the bicyclist was struck and killed recently. A bystander believed that it was probably due to sun in the eyes of the driver going down 8th Avenue that caused the accident. But this is obviously just a guess. It’s a very sad day for Park Slope.
Some of the commenters seem to be suggesting that if the sun is bad, people shouldn’t be driving. Give me a break! Mind you, I don’t own a car — I think owning a car in NYC is insane — but c’mon: for those who do drive, are they just supposed to stay home on sunny winter days when the sun might get in their eyes? Let’s get real.
Grand Army Plaza Death o Meter circa 1927
http://ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/the-park-slope-traffic-death-o-meter/
Awful news. Yes, people drive like mad on 8th and the intersecting streets. I don’t know what’s the matter with drivers here. And yes, peds should also be extra careful to avoid accidents, even when you have the right of way. I feel like I’ve seen an unusually high number of drivers running red lights around these streets. I’m going to write a letter to whoever is handling traffic issues for the area, for what it’s worth. (Anyone know who to contact – Letitia James or other?) Be careful!
I have lived in this area for 35 years and there have always been a high volume of accidents/traffic deaths on 8th avenue between 3rd street and flatbush.
1. Regardless of people’s responsibilities when driving, the sun can be really bad coming up the hill in the morning and will come and go depending on the angle of the street and the pitch of the car, blinding you momentarily almost at any moment.
2. There is far too much traffic on 8th avenue going from the prospect expressway to union street/gap and flatbush avenue for the current street configuration. It gets packed during peak hours from 9th street to flatbush and the rest of the time people simply go to fast.
3. There is about a 15-20 degree angle to the left at Carroll that is difficult to navigate even when the street is empty.
4. There is a downslope going to 1st street that makes drivers speed up.
5. Too many people double park and that causes not only additional traffic issues but also driver frustration.
Thankfully, with the addition of the light at garfield things are much better than they used to be. In my opinion, the best approach would be to make ppw a four lane two way street and 8th avenue a one lane two way street.
a couple of things
1.if the sun is in your eyes and you can’t see its your responsibility to slow down so you can stop not just barrel ahead.
2. about London…No I didn’t mean pedestrian malls. London uses subways(places pedestrians can cross the street under ground) and fly overs to separate traffic and pedestrians even in areas that are not pedestrian malls. They work quite well. They work well outside NY City….but not in NY where there are very few of them…
The number of pedestrian deaths are DOWN from previous years….but there are still too many of them.
The other day I was driving in this area and was blinded by the sun for several seconds. It scared me because couldn’t see in front of me. The driver may not have been able to see the light.
The car was coming up Carroll St. and crossing 8th avenue. I was close but could not see the signals. The man who was hit was not the only person in the crosswalk. There were people who screamed, stepped back. Sun was low in the sky and could have been shining in the face the driver. Again, I could not see the signals, but the people in the crosswalk seemed surprised the car came through the intersection, which suggests that the driver may have zoomed through a yellow or ran a light. This is all one perspective though, and shows how tricky bearing eye witness can be. Police were interviewing everyone so I hope that a clear picture will emerge.
Odd that it never made it into any reports, which all described the school bus as turning. So was it actually the cyclist who was turning?
Also, I live on that corner (I was out of town when this happened) and wonder where the school bus would’ve been parked. I don’t know what rules for school buses stopping are, but if it was parked, seems like it would’ve been in city bus stop, at Union, which is at the other corner, away from where the ghost bike is and the accident is described as having happened.
my wife spoke with 2 people who saw it happen. sadly.