A 69-year old man was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries last month after being struck by a NYPD police cruiser on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. The unnamed individual, who is reportedly homeless, was crossing Broadway between 77th and 78th streets when he was struck by a squad car driven by an officer who has yet to be identified by the NYPD. This type of pedestrian accident in New York isn’t unheard of. In fact, just months ago two pedestrians were killed on Broadway near W. 96th Street while crossing the street.
Eyewitnesses interviewed by news sources say they heard the man strike the police car’s hood and windshield. They also report that the impact left the car damaged and blood stained.
When responders from the New York Fire Department arrived, they found the man still lying in the street. They rushed him to St. Luke’s hospital where doctors classified his condition as “serious” but stable. Along the way the man suffered at least one episode of “cardiac arrest” (simply meaning his heart stopped) but was revived.
A spokesperson from the NYPD said that the police car did have its siren on at the time of the pedestrian accident in Manhattan and it is unclear whether or not the injured man heard or saw the car. Ironically, the NYPD had just begun ramped up patrols in the area to crack down on speeding, including the addition of six officers sporting radar equipment along that stretch of road.
While the investigation into this particular pedestrian accident in Manhattan is ongoing, the incident serves as a reminder to the rest of us. You can never tell what dangers lurk just a step or two away. In the blink of an eye, an injury can put you or a loved one in the hospital, out of work, or worse. (Every year roughly 170 pedestrians and bicyclists are killed in New York City during automobile collisions.)
If you or a loved one have been injured in a similar accident, contact a qualified pedestrian accident attorney in New York City, today to discuss your case. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel for a free consultation to learn your rights at or 212-385-1122.