Motorists carefully drive past hit-and-run victim

Published on June 6th, 2008

When Angel Arce Torres, 78, was knocked down by a car travelling down the wrong side of a road in Connecticut, motorists ignored and even swerved around his prostrate body.

A streetlight surveillance video shows nine cars driving past Mr Torres, who is now paralysed in hospital. One rider on a scooter even circled him for a closer look before deciding to drive on.

Mr Torres, a retired forklift operator, was trying to cross the street in Hartford after buying some milk when he was hit by a Honda, closely trailed by a Toyota, which were both driving on the wrong side of the road…

Mr Torres was discovered minutes later by a police officer responding to an unrelated call, although four people called 911 soon after the accident.

Hey, at least no one went through his pockets.

36 users responded in " Motorists carefully drive past hit-and-run victim "

Subscribe to this post comment rss or trackback url

# 1 gquaglia said, on June 6th, 2008 at 7:34 am

That’s what happens when you J walk.

# 2 Stinker said, on June 6th, 2008 at 7:36 am

Man thats brutal!

# 3 Dallas said, on June 6th, 2008 at 7:44 am

Very sad and my heart goes out to this elderly 78 year old man. Very sickening to watch this.

# 4 Improbus said, on June 6th, 2008 at 7:52 am

Who says that Americans don’t believe in ~~evolution~~ survival of the fittest? Myself, I subscribe to the old axiom: No good deed goes unpunished.

# 5 DaveC said, on June 6th, 2008 at 8:07 am

And yet we Americans believe we are different than the muslims that chop peoples heads off.

# 6 Wildsolution said, on June 6th, 2008 at 8:07 am

As sad as it is the guy getting hit, chances are the first person to touch him to try and help would get sued.

# 7 PL said, on June 6th, 2008 at 8:16 am

First, this is pathetic – no one coming to the person’s aid. Reminds me of the episode of Seinfeld, where they get arrested in a small town because they don’t help out another person.

Secondly, what’s the use of traffic surveilence if the picture quality isn’t good enough to make up license plates? That damn driver could already be behind bars.

# 8 Riker17 said, on June 6th, 2008 at 8:18 am

I agree with #6, as we live in this lawsuit prone country, so people are afraid to risk their own lives for a stranger. Especially one that is as stupid as Mr. Torres. Honestly, no sympathy from me, regardless of the guy’s age, crosswalks exist for a reason.

# 9 Angel H. Wong said, on June 6th, 2008 at 8:27 am

A hispanic hit by a car and left on the street to die… If I were a Republican I’d masturbate to that.

# 10 natefrog said, on June 6th, 2008 at 8:32 am

#6;

At least in my state there is a so-called “Good Samaritan” law which protects those who are trying to render aid. Yes, this does protect you if you drag a person off a roadway to safety, but inadvertently cause/exacerbate an injury in the process.

In fact, it’s even a legal requirement to stop and render aid if you are one of the first to come upon the scene of an accident.

# 11 natefrog said, on June 6th, 2008 at 8:34 am

#8;

“A hispanic hit by a car and left on the street to die… If I were ~~a Republican~~ gquaglia or pedro, I’d masturbate to that.

Fixed that for you. (=

# 12 adogg4629 said, on June 6th, 2008 at 8:35 am

I’ve got to disagree with the characterizations of this video. We don’t have an audio track, so we don’t get any real insight into what those people on the ground were saying, and it looks to me that after the initial hit and run there was a prolonged moment of shock held by the bystanders. This, by the was, is very common in situations such as this where individuals who are surrounded by others delay comming to a person’s aid b/c everybody is waiting for somebody to step up and take control. This is not only common, but there are numerous studies to back this up…extracts of which were even on this site. It’s easy to sti back and judge people we have no real interest in, but that really only serves the viewers purposes and nothing more.

# 13 bobbo said, on June 6th, 2008 at 8:35 am

This is actually the only time I can see using a gun to protect yourself. Get hit by a car, reach into your pants, pull the gun out, and threaten to shoot any M-F’er that has a cell phone and refuses to call an ambulance.

Does seem cold though. I know I’d stop if I hit him. Probably would if someone else did too.

Way to turn probation into jail time.

# 14 B. Dog said, on June 6th, 2008 at 8:37 am

Those Baywatch people would have helped. They should never have taken that show off. Those were good role models.

# 15 natefrog said, on June 6th, 2008 at 8:40 am

Before you guys get too high on your horse condemning this person for “jaywalking,” remember that laws are not uniform on what jaywalking is.

For instance, in my locale, jaywalking is only illegal in designated “congested areas” (downtown) and on designated “arterial” streets. Without knowing the laws of this city, he may have been completely within his rights to be crossing the street there.

Nevermind the larger fact that the car(s) that hit him were traveling the wrong way on the street.

# 16 dugzor said, on June 6th, 2008 at 8:49 am

I used to live in that part of Hartford, and believe me, it’s a nasty place. I saw several hit and runs while living in that area, each one bringing a large number of spectators unwilling to lift a finger.

I also saw a car accident in which the driver and his buddy fled the scene (a stolen car was my thought), and the car was stripped of all valuables – including the license plates! – in under two minutes.

Needless to say, I moved away from Hartford as soon as I could.

# 17 Improbus said, on June 6th, 2008 at 8:55 am

@natefrog

In fact, it’s even a legal requirement to stop and render aid if you are one of the first to come upon the scene of an accident.

When did this happen? Who has the gall to legislate “I am my brothers keeper” laws? To me it smacks of legislating morality. I should be FORCED to do jack squat.

# 18 Shin said, on June 6th, 2008 at 9:14 am

For people driving by..there are plenty of people out of vehicles..on the sidewalks and around. The assumption is that someone “on the ground” and in a more likely position to do so will render assistance. #11 is also right. It takes a while for what is happening to sink in, and for people to make the decision that it is up to them to act. This is not a war zone, and these people are not soldiers or police..who are trained to take control of an unusual situation.

I also see this as a side effect of the much loved police state in which we now live. Any driver stopping will be the initial hitting suspect. Pedestrians will just lose hours of their lives while being detained for questioning, and any of them who may have had a run in before with the criminal justice system (an increasingly large number daily), will almost certainly be thinking 4 or 5 times before putting themselves in those crosshairs.

We bring these behaviors upon ourselves. When the government begins to behave like a 3rd world dictatorship, the populace increasingly begins to act like the subjects of such a regime. (See above comment about dealing with police.) Anyway..nothing new. I’ve been seeing stories like this for at least 50 years. Some of it is just the side effect of living in a city. Would happen in any city anywhere in the world in most neighborhoods..and as was stated..4 people at least did call it in..which is way better than some of these stories I’ve seen over the years.

# 19 soundwash said, on June 6th, 2008 at 9:16 am

….and they say us NYorkers are rude..

-soundwash

# 20 Balbas said, on June 6th, 2008 at 9:21 am

It’s been my experience that when a human being has the audacity to enter the realm of a car the unstated rule is “Drive Faster”.

OTHO, the motorists who stopped could’ve been ticketed for disrupting traffic flow. (I was told this during driver ed; if you see an accident, pull over to the side of the road, but don’t obstruct traffic.)

# 21 Balbas said, on June 6th, 2008 at 9:43 am

#16:

Why worry about “legislating morality”? It took thousands of years for the “morality” in the Original Testament to evolve, and they are simply ways to live with one another in primitive society. We need to force people to be good to one another today or else nothing will happen when you get run over.

# 22 RTaylor said, on June 6th, 2008 at 9:47 am

Say what you will, but the fact is that video showed self centered assholes and gawkers. Damn I’m glad I don’t live in a large city anymore.

# 23 chuck said, on June 6th, 2008 at 9:55 am

A man crosses the street, gets hit by 2 cars going the wrong way (the cars appeared to be illegally passing another car).

Within 60 seconds (the whole video is only 95 seconds long) a crowd has gathered, at least 4 people have called 911, and a police car has arrived on the scene.

I don’t see how the 9 cars that passed by could have somehow provided a faster response.

# 24 Elwood Pleebus said, on June 6th, 2008 at 10:03 am

Just as soon as we have as many surveillance cameras as Britain, we can see this stuff all the time!

# 25 peter_m said, on June 6th, 2008 at 10:54 am

Good Samaritan laws… who needs them right?

# 26 MikeN said, on June 6th, 2008 at 12:05 pm

I wouldn’t want to be sued or even worse, have the guy get up and rob me. If I have a gun I’m more likely to stop and help.

# 27 natefrog said, on June 6th, 2008 at 12:17 pm

#26;

If you’re that paranoid, I wouldn’t want your help anyway.

# 28 Mr. Gawd Almighty said, on June 6th, 2008 at 1:28 pm

#27, Nate,

Damn, you beat me to it.

***

Fuck this “he gunna sue me” crap. That is just an excuse for your fucking Republican asshole to not touch someone who might be dirty. Effen wimps.

What could he sue for? Because you rendered aid? Because you stopped traffic? Because you happened to save the guy’s life?

Unless you did something truly outrageous, such as kicked him several times and broke some ribs, he couldn’t sue. Even in those States without Good Samaritan laws, if you give reasonable aid and comfort to someone injured then you are protected. Only if you are grossly negligent could the victim have a case.

# 29 MikeN said, on June 6th, 2008 at 2:33 pm

They don’t need to have a case. Even if they sue with a bad case, that’s still a hassle for me.

# 30 Erik Blazynski said, on June 6th, 2008 at 2:34 pm

In that part of the city most of the people there are either criminals or illegal, and would be jeopardizing their own freedom to report the accident.

# 31 Mister Mustard said, on June 6th, 2008 at 3:02 pm

>>In that part of the city most of the people
>>there are either criminals or illegal

Oh? And what part of the city might that be? I guess if you recognize it from the traffic cam, you should be able to say just where in Hartford this took place.

So. Where was it?

Or are you just assuming that whenever Hispanics or people of African descent are involved, it must be a crack-ho slum?

# 32 Mister Ketchup said, on June 6th, 2008 at 3:02 pm

Speed bump.

# 33 gregallen said, on June 6th, 2008 at 3:56 pm

I’ve driven past accidents plenty of times. I hate it but I do it.

I have a personal rule — if I don’t think I can help, I keep going.

If I personally witness the accident, then I stay to give a report.

If I am the ONLY person, I also stay.

But I know nothing about first aid, so just joining a crowd helps no one.

# 34 gquaglia said, on June 6th, 2008 at 4:56 pm

In fact, it’s even a legal requirement to stop and render aid if you are one of the first to come upon the scene of an accident.

I think you’re thinking of the last Seinfeld episode. I have never heard of such a law.

# 35 Rick Cain said, on June 7th, 2008 at 5:18 am

I think this is more of a problem in a big city, where people think differently.

In OKC in 1995 there was a mad rush to by individuals to assist during the murrah bombing rescue effort. People and businesses would bring food, bottled water, donations and support without being asked. TV news would say things like “The firemen need dog boots for the rescue dogs” and an hour later somebody would show up with a box full of dog boots and just drop them off.

In larger cities, firemen have a hard time getting a free cup of coffee much less free food and water.

# 36 Mr. Gawd Almighty said, on June 7th, 2008 at 8:25 am

#29, Lyin’ Mike,

They don’t need to have a case. Even if they sue with a bad case, that’s still a hassle for me.

Once more your bullshit is too ripe. And you are most definitely wrong.

In order to bring a tort suit, the plaintiff needs to show he have been injured by the defendant’s actions. That includes a reasonable demonstration of the injury and reasonable identification that the defendant is responsible. If the plaintiff doesn’t meet that requisite minimum, the Judge will toss the case as frivolous. Although it is at the Judges option, usually this will also bring the defendant’s costs being assigned to the plaintiff.

You have no qualms about someone suffering, well, except for yourself. Your convenience is paramount it appears. You wouldn’t lift a finger to assist because you might be momentarily put out. What a sad little person.

Leave Your Reply Below...

Comment Moderation is Active, so if your comment doesn't
show up immediately, please don't submit it again.

Special Deals 4U

25% off eHarmony subscription with code EHTECH
12-percent discount forever with code TECH
10-percent discount and free month using TECH10
10-percent or 30 dollars off weekly car rental!
Get 10-percent discount on car rental!
Get 10% off rental cars!
Get 10% off Dollar rentals!
Discounts on domain names!