Friday 20 September 2013

The War On Cyclists and Pedestrians: Five children run over, no charges for the driver

http://www.streetsblog.org/2013/09/12/running-down-five-children-on-a-sidewalk-is-legal-in-new-york-city/
Running Down Five Children on a Sidewalk Is Legal in New York City
DNAinfo is reporting that the driver who jumped a curb and hit five kids in Maspeth this morning, an incident captured on video, probably will not be charged.
A surveillance tape shows a group of kids on a Grand Avenue sidewalk when the driver of a Honda SUV runs one of them over, missing the others by inches. Witnesses lifted the SUV off at least one of the victims. One girl reportedly suffered a broken leg and another a broken hip. One boy has a leg injury and another was treated for a swollen arm. The victims were age 12 to 14. From DNAinfo:
Sources said that the 40-year-old driver was going shopping and was trying to pull into a space when he accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake.
He remained on the scene and was not expected to be charged, sources said.
http://www.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/crash13n-2-web.jpg

No charges?  If he had been a construction worker who "accidentally" caused parts to fall from a crane onto a street and injured people, would the law hold the construction worker responsible?  Most certainly.  So why do car drivers get a pass when they assault and murder pedestrians and cyclists?  Why do people (other than drunk drivers) become exempt from legal responsibility for being inside a fast moving and heavy vehicle?

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