New York – A pedestrian accident in East Flatbush left the victim dead and the concerned public asking questions of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Police believe that the nearly 80-year-old man was walking in or near an intersection when a city bus ran him over. Sources say that the bus driver failed to yield to the pedestrian and knocked him down. An ambulance and paramedics responded to the accident scene and treated the injury victim. However, his injuries were so severe that the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was arrested and charged with causing the fatal accident. Outcries have emerged from public safety advocates for increased bus and traffic safety in New York City. They explain that some bus drivers are too aggressive and don’t slow down for pedestrians, bicyclists or even other cars. This can create a serious hazard, especially when dealing with a large bus on busy streets. Some have pointed out that city and MTA officials have long known about the need for more training and increased penalties for dangerous drivers and speeders. They have expressed the hope that the police and city will start to take the dangerous condition seriously to avoid another bus crash and wrongful death in the future. Further investigation will be necessary to determine the safety training and driving record of the specific driver in this case. Experts say that bus accidents in the city are too common and can injure both passengers of the bus as well as other motorists, if not dealt with soon. Commuters have also complained about drivers who speed off too soon after picking up passengers, causing them to slip and fall while trying to get to a safe seat. Additional information about this bus crash is available here.

Illustrative photo by Chris (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons