Just over a week ago, a 21-year-old aspiring New York actress was killed after being hit by a dump truck while crossing the street. The New York crosswalk accident occurred as the young woman, a Hunter College student and actress, was walking east on 14th street around 1:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 24 – she was going home following her waitressing shift a nearby bar.
As the young woman crossed Broadway, a dump truck made a right turn off of 14th and onto Broadway, fatally hitting her, according to police and witnesses. A witness told New York Daily News that the 21-year-old woman had the walk light when she was in the crosswalk and the truck crushed her.
New York Hit and Run Accident
Following the accident, the truck left the scene and continued south on Broadway, according to police. The young woman tragically later died at Beth Israel Hospital.
Unfortunately, police have told the mother of the 21-year-old that no cameras actually captured any surveillance images of the dump truck. However, that hasn’t diminished the mother’s hope that the driver will be found or come forward.
While police continue their search for this dump truck driver, it is important to note that the driver is facing numerous criminal charges. However, not only may the driver be criminally liable, but the family of the young woman may be able to hold the driver civilly liable for the death of the 21-year-old.
Too often, New York drivers are in too much of a hurry or too distracted to ensure the safety of those pedestrians that surround them – these drivers that cause injury, or even death, need to be held accountable for their actions.
Source: NY Daily News, “Budding actress Roxana Sorina Buta killed in hit-and-run near Union Station,” Sarah Armaghan, May 28, 2012