Family of Metro-North Crash Driver to Sue Railroad
The one year anniversary of the most deadly Metro-North crash ever has just passed. The crash involved a Metro-North train hitting an SUV stopped at a railroad crossing in Westchester County. The SUV driver, Ellen Brody, was hit around 6:30 p.m. by a train carrying 800 passengers. At the time of the accident, the train was traveling at 58 mph, well under the set 70 mph speed limit. The train’s engineer wasn’t able to stop in time. The accident killed Brody and five passengers on board the train.
Now, the family of the deceased driver is suing Metro-North, the State of New York, Westchester County, and the town of Mount Pleasant for negligence and wrongful death.
Common Causes of New York Crane Accidents
Moving large, heavy loads and demolishing structures are critical to manufacturing and construction industries. Just as important is the safety of the tall cranes that make these jobs possible. One error can cause a tip-over, collapse or dropped load that results in serious injury or death of workers and passersby.
Crane accidents are the most common cause of construction site accident deaths. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates there are currently over 175,000 cranes working in construction and maritime building. That means that hundreds of thousands of construction workers could possibly be injured in a crane accident. This doesn’t include bystanders passing by construction sites.
Workers Buried in Brooklyn Cave In Accident
Three workers were injured as they were buried up to their waist in dirt when the ground they were working in gave way. The cave-in accident occurred at a rowhouse on Wilson Street in Williamsburg. Officials say the building was under renovation when the ground caved in and the workers were buried. Two of the workers had to be dug out by firefighters. All three men suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Woman Killed in Brooklyn Crash
A 77-year-old woman was killed crossing the street when a van driver failed to yield the right of way. The fatal pedestrian accident occurred at East 21st Street and Gravesend Neck Road in Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn. Officials say she was crossing the road when a 2005 Ford Econoline delivery van turned left and struck her. She was rushed to Coney Island Hospital but, died from her injuries. The 23-year-old Midwood driver behind the wheel of the van has been charged with failure to yield and failure to exercise due care.
Officers Injured in New York City Four-Car Crash
Several police officers and one civilian driver were injured in a New York City car accident involving the new elite “SRG” tactical unit. The chain reaction car crash occurred at East 116th Street and FDR Drive in East Harlem. Officials say one police car rear-ended a civilian car, causing a chain-reaction involving another civilian car and a third police vehicle. At least three officers were hospitalized, seven were taken transported for treatment, one civilian suffered minor injuries, and another refused medical attention.
Greenpoint DUI Crash Proves Fatal for Passenger
A 26-year-old woman was killed in a New York car accident when the 2015 Honda Civic in which she was a passenger crashed into a tractor-trailer. The fatal truck accident occurred at 367 Vandervoort Avenue in Brooklyn. Officials say the 27-year-old driver of the Civic was speeding while under the influence of alcohol when he crashed into the side of the tractor-trailer. His passenger suffered fatal head trauma and died at Woodhull Hospital.
Construction Worker Injured at Upper West Side Job Site
A construction worker suffered serious facial injuries while working in a four-story building on the Upper West Side. The construction accident occurred at West 86th Street and West End Avenue in New York City. Officials say the worker on the second floor was struck in the face by a falling piece of construction material dropped by a co-worker. His facial injuries are considered serious. The city’s Buildings Department has issued a violation for “failure to safeguard” as well as a partial stop-work order for scaffold usage.
New York Bus Passenger Ejected Through Windshield
About 55 passengers were aboard a Manhattan-bound bus traveling between Baltimore and New York City when a sudden stop resulted in a passenger going through the front windshield. The bus accident occurred on JFK Boulevard East and Baldwin Avenue right outside the Lincoln Tunnel in Weehawken, New Jersey. Officials say the sudden stop at the traffic light caused the front windowpane to break apart from the bus allowing the passenger to be ejected. The crash is under investigation.
Lower East Side Man Killed in Elevator Accident
A crashing elevator on the Lower East Side killed a 25-year-old man moments after he pushed a woman to safety. The elevator accident occurred at the Grand Street Guild Apartments on Broome Street in Manhattan on New Year’s Eve. Officials say the elevator began to move after getting stuck. The man was visiting friends in the building when the stuck elevator started to move. He shoved the woman out of harm’s way before suffering fatal injuries.
The Staggering Number of New York City Hit-and-Run Crashes
Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law 600, “Any person operating a motor vehicle who, knowing or having cause to know that personal injury has been caused to another person,” must stop, share license and insurance information and file a report with the authorities. In other words, it is illegal to leave the scene of an accident when someone has been hurt. But, every day drivers in New York City flee the scene without stopping, exchanging information, or offering any help.
An investigation led by Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer discovered that there have been about 38,000 hit-and-run crashes in New York City in the year 2015. According to a recent New York Magazine report, about 34,000 of those accidents were minor and resulted in little more than dents and sideswipes. That means that about 4,000 New York City hit-and-run crashes this year involved a personal injury.