With so much going on in New York City, it is vital for all drivers to be paying close attention to their surroundings. This means being on the lookout for other vehicles, as well as bicyclists and pedestrians.
Recently, a tow truck driver ran over a bicyclist on a Brooklyn street. After striking the bicyclist, the tow truck driver left the scene. He did not even call 911. The bicyclist ended up dying before emergency personnel arrived on the scene.
Luckily, a witness to the bicycle accident was able to write down the license plate number of the tow truck to give to police.
The tow truck driver was later found, but denies knowing that he hit someone. Instead, he claims he got out of the truck and looked around after hitting the bicyclist because he was looking to ask someone for directions.
The accident happened around 9:30 a.m. The bicyclist was riding on Sixth Avenue when he was hit by the tow truck. The truck was making a right turn off of Sixth Avenue onto 65th Street at the time of the crash.
Looking to the future, it will be interesting to see if the family of the deceased bicyclist files a lawsuit against the tow truck driver.
In general, this case is a perfect example of the fact that all drivers have a responsibility to keep a lookout for bicyclists and pedestrians, as these types of crashes can end up leading to serious injuries or even death for those on bikes or on foot.
Source: New York Daily News, “Bicyclist killed in crash in Bay Ridge identified, driver charged,” Peter Moskowitz and Joe Kemp, June 28, 2013
