59 Comments

• Cohen S.

  What a terrible situation. Please let us know about the delivery man. And we should stop differentiating between Yidcen and non-yidden. The man who was hurt has apparently had catastrophic injuries and it he worked for a Jewish business.

  Let’s all remember to always call 911 before Shomrim, Shomrim gets called second. NYPD MUST repond ASAP or the precinct’s compstats suffer and the CO pays fot it in performance. If you call Shomrim first and NYPD later, you lose critical minutes if a perp must be caught.

  We can also expect complete NYPD cooperation with Hatzolah. T

• MESSAGE FROM AN EMS PROVIDER

  what is wrong with new yorkers!? why is it that when i’m driving with lights and sirens, no one shows a care in the world?! what if it was YOU’RE mother or friend on the ambulance?! people just don’t care… it’s not like this outside of the city. people actually respect an emergency vehicle when it’s going with lights and sirens. here, in the city, drivers either stop right in front of the ambulance, or try to pass in front, or drive behind etc… PEOPLE: STOP BEING SO CHILDISH!! when you see an ambulance, just imagine that g-d forbid it was a close friend or relative going to the hospital, how would you react with you’re vehicle then?

  i don’t know if this is true or not, but i heard that they are working on a new law which states any driver who doesn’t show appropriate caution and / or clears the path for an emergency vehicle can be issued a ticket or arrested or something like that. again, i cannot confirm if this is true because i really don’t know but i heard people talking. i hope they make this law, hopefully new yorkers will start allowing ambulances to pass.

• Sara

  I sure hope the SUV that turned into the ambulance gets a hefty fine and is charged with hurting the delivery guy.
  They were probably talking on a cell phone and didn’t even hear the ambulance.
  It’s SO scary to watch drivers talking on their cell while driving. Very negligent!
  You’re supposed to STOP when an ambulance wants to pass.
  I hope the delivery guy survives this in good health.

• An out of towner

  "B"H there were no Yidden involved in this terrible accident."
  I agree – truly a miracle!

• CN

  Hope the delivery man has a full, speedy recovery. Poor guy was just trying to make an honest living delivering fruits to our community.

• An out of towner

  The EMS provider is right. We live out of town. In our city it would be unheard of for the driver of a vehicle not to yield for a police car, EMS, or fire vehicle that has its sirens on.

• I WAS THERE BOTH TIMES

  TO COHEN S.
  WETHER YOU CALL SHOMRIM OR NYPD FIRST SHOMRIM WILL BE THERE FIRST ITS A PROVEN FACT NOT UNLESS OF CORCE YOU SAY THAT A JEW HAS A KNIFE OR THREW A BOTTLE AT A BLACK KID THEN THEY (NYPD) WILL BE THERE FIRST OTHER WISE DONT GET YOUR HOPES HIGH

• Arye

  We DO APPECIATE whenyou inform us that there were B"H NO Yidden involved, and if G-d forbid there are yidden involved when you tell us their full hebrew names along with their mothers so that we can pray for hem.

  Tizku LiMitzvois!

• FL Guy

  I agree with the comment mentioning yidden or not etc etc Webbt don’t be like the other loser sites like vozisneis that pander and print such dumb posts. Whatever it is we Jews know all lives are equal…kulam mevinim!!!

• Yisroel

  Whats wrong with people in this place dont you have any sense at all to understand such a basic thing that it DOES matter if it was a Yid or a Goy. Not only it could be somebody in your family or somebody you know, YES it should matter to you more if it’s a Yid or a Goy. I just wonder why you’re following the news in Israel now and not the thousands being killed in Darfhur, Iraq, India, etc.

• Lynne

  When did God start differentiating between a Jewish person getting injured and a non-Jewish person? Shame on your paper for publishing such an inflammatory comment.

• chts member

  very unfortunate. this delivery guy is about 19 yrs old and he worked hard and honestly for Mr. Greens. He probably has no family here and he services our people.
  I agree that on the internet where others see, it should not be publicized that its really not appropriate to advertise that B"H no yidden were involved, it could be misinterpreted and is not a Kiddush HaShem.

• Helen A. Fries

  Any emergency vehicle accident is truly a sad incident. However we as emergency vehicle drivers must also be diligent in how we drive, there are a lot of people out there that just don’t care or have the attitude that the law does not apply to them. Again please drive safe out there and may all the angels and prayers keep us all safe.

• gloria moy

  Its a human life…does it really matter. a human life is at stake. The folks that talk on their cell phone when they are driving or just not paying attention should be fined. But to drive in the way of an ambulance, what is wrong with people.

  The delievery guy was probably making less than minimum wage and has no health insurance.

  who will take care of him and his family.

• FDNY MEDIC

  I’m glad to see that so far those who have left comments have been non-biased. An injury/tragedy/death is unforturnate for anyone regardless of race or religion.
  As for NY’ers not yeilding hopefully they’ll learn as well.
  A.B.E.

• M&M

  I hope the bisyclist and everyone else is getting better. And I hope this will not happen again anytime soon. Everyone be Safe.

• Thomas Perez

  I’m an EMT in the city as well. And I truly agree with the EMS Provider. It drives me crazy when I am on a critical call, or even transporting a critical pt, and these people just don’t move, or they come to a complete stop dead in front of ya. There’s one thing I have to say though on their behalf, cause my mother feals the same way.

  There are sooooooo many emergency workers who abuse their lights and sirens. Trust me it pisses me off when I bust my butt to move out the way, and the emergency vehicle turns his light off as soon as they clear traffic, they cut them off. it’s unfortunete, but people do that all the time, so alot of people views on lights and sirens are to ignore them. I fight with my mom about that sll the time. lol

• CONCERNED!

  Thank goodness that no one was killed! I wish only the best for the young delivery person, may he have a speedy recovery!

  And as always: let us be thankful for our wonderful FDNY Firemen and our EMS Volunteers. These two groups of people are always ready to assist us in a moments notice and willingly place themselves in jeopardy on our behalf. They never question our race or religon!

• NYC*EMT

  Overall, I hope that everyone turned out alright.
  But for the future, people PLEASE, if you see ANY EMERGENCY Vehicles, either EMS(Municipal and Vulunteer), Fire Truck or PD — PULLL OVER TO THE RIGHT UNLESS DIRECTED OTHERWISE !!!!!!!!!

• Sigh

  I’m glad there were no Jews involved, because whenever Jews are involved in car accidents the blame seems to be placed on them.

  I’m not happy that anyone got hurt, but I am glad that the blame will not placed on Jews.

• veggie lover

  As a customer of Mr. Green’s I propose we make a collection for the delivery guy, who, I would guess, was the one who delivered my order to me the morning of the accident. It would be a nice thing to do. I’ll call the store tomorrow & see how we can do this. I suggest all you other customers join me…as someone else said before, he probably has no insurance & a family to feed.

  How about $20.00 per customer? Added up, it could make a nice chunk of change. And it’s not a fortune.

• Don

  Gosh, I’m glad there were no Jews involved. Except, of course, for my Jewish, future daughter-in-law – one of the EMTs. Look, I realize that we live in a world where many groups are closing ranks (to the detriment of "outsiders" – read "everyone else") and newspapers sometimes report rumor as fact; but, all of us need to come together as Americans and not pre-judge based on race, religion, etc… After all, no matter how you pray to whatever name you use – it’s one God, the same for eveyone.

• moshe cohen

  A good Human Being is a good human being, why do we differentiat between a yid or not. its a tragedy regardless.

• Richard Berger, NY State EMT

  As a longtime (almost 33 years) Emergency Medical Technician operating primarily within the 5 boroughs of New York City, in volunteer, proprietary, and municipal ambulance services of the local Emergency Medical Services System, I know that on hearing the sirens, and/or seeing the lights, other drivers are supposed to pull to the right side of the road, parallel to the curb, and stop, while not blocking intersections. However, due to the sound muting materials newer vehicles are made from, so many drivers simply being inattentive while driving, as well as any number of reasons, not yielding Right of Way to emergency vehicles in "Emergency Response" mode is, per many of my sources, an international problem. It is definitively not a matter of Jewish, Gentile, or any form of (or lack of) any religion.

  That a bicycle delivery person was struck, in addition to the injuries of those in the involved vehicles, just makes this a worse tragedy.

• dmd

  Our toughts and payers are with all inoved
  the biscyclist
  the yiddish
  the mediks

  dmd

• respect emergency vehicles

  we do not respect emergency vehicles in ny cuz they abuse theire privelage when they turn the sirens on to pass the red light and get a bagel or anything els and not responding to an emergency. hatzolah is diffrent

• anon

  These people are right, wether its Jews or l’havdil non-Jews involved it shouldn’t matter

• nassau emt

  as a volunteer emt in nassau i am not surprised. no one yields to ambulances any more and even worse tail gate an ambulance that goes lights and sirens… you never know when we will short stop in case we have to put a line in the patient. Just for the information that were yidden involved and that was on of the emt’s on the bus. i hope that she does not feel guilty that she’ll know it was not her fault. i hope that people will be more careful from now on and will give the right away to ambulances, fire trucks, and people with blue lights.

• Canina Kohane

  Nobody should ever get hurt. This is essentially a Jewish website, and nobody ever wants a fellow Jew hurt. But we also never want a non-Jew hurt either. of course we must take care to know that our family, neighbor, member of Anash not be injured. But think of the family in Mexico, or Guatemala, or wherever the bicylist came from: HIS famiy’s tragedy is equal to an injury in my Jewish family or yours.

  I saw today by 770 a NYPD 71 Pct car with siren blaring stuck behind yidden drivers who were spastic and couldn’t move their cars up Kingston to let the NYPD answer a call. Vais mir!!

• very carefull!!!

  i think all should give right away when they hear or see lights on,how ever,this does not give the right to tell the first car in front waiting on a red light,to rush in the street as cars are rushing by!one has to be very carefull when going through a intersection on a red!! I WAS YELLED AT BY COPS A FELL TIMES,NOT GOING FAST ENOUGH! one time allmost sending me in a incoming car! what do you think is the right thing is to be done, if this happens again?

• BrooklynEMT

  People whats wrong with you. What difference does it make whether it was a jew or not. We all people of equal rights.

  A lot of people don’t care for the emergency vehicles, they try to cut us off or just don’t give us a curtiousy because they are busy with something else like talking on the phone. When emergency vehicle travels they always go to the left of the traffic and if you see emergency vehicle you should move to the right. So the Emt was right but the driver of the SUV failed to yield an emergency vehicle or just didn’t care.
  PS to all emergency personnel. Please be careful outthere and watch out for those people who are purposely trying to cause an accident so they can make big bucks out of it. All emergency vehicle carry an extensive vehicle coverage and those who are involved in the accident with the emergency vehicle will be looking at the sufficiant amount of compensation.

• Albert E Newman

  Don’t worry about the delivery guy, he has 3 deep insurance pockets to sue: Ambulence, SUV and Raskins (workers comp). He’s going to be a milionare!

• jyn

  What happened to due regard, both drivers should have been watching the road. Then, no accident

  you and all others are no Yahoo"s

• 77 CHVP

  I hate when I have the lights on and people ignore the lights and when a police car blocks the street it means the street is close even when an NYPD Auxiliary officer is blocking the road. I hate when people are very inconsiderate. And screw what the 71 precinct comstats say we need a new C.O. and get rid of D.I. Vaga cause he is the NYPD bigot.

  If anyone is intrested in joining the the NYPD Auxiliary Police program in the 77th Precinct please email your name address and telephone number and time to call

  nypd77auxiliarypoliceunit@yahoo.com

• Joe. R

  I hope whoever on here who actually cares whether it was a yidden or not and are" GLAD TO HEAR NO YIDDEN WHERE INVOLVED" wake up and realize what there saying you morons a life is a life you place yourself higher than anyone else whne you say that which makes you racist nypd should not even acknowledge hatzolah and it hasnt been oroven they are affective anymore EMS has come along way since it was first created , ive worked with hotzolah and ive seen with my own eyes thenleaving the scene foy "goys" as you all put it, and for that tey shoudl be arrested not thanked < you wanna help your OWN correct lets not forget all the AMERICAN SOLDIERS THAT DIED DURING WW2! WHO DID THEY DIE TRYING TO FREE FROM PERSECUTION! T ime to get over yourselves and wake up !

• me

  One comment posted here asked for the names of the injured Yids "so we can pray for them." Funny — this Goy prays for EVERYONE, rather than saying, "They’re not like me, so let them die."

• Brother

  To BrooklynEMT & Lynne

  You would agree if G-D forbid you tought a brother of yours might be involved in this accident.
  Your first tought and concern would be of your brother – was he indeed involved even tough other people were involved- and no one will blame you for this.

• TO: VERY CAREFULL!!

  TO: "VERY CAREFULL!!"

  if an emergency vehicle is behind you with it’s lights and sirens trying to make you move, and the only place to go is straight in to traffic, then simply don’t move. they may not realize that you cannot move, that doesn’t mean you should risk another accident because then they look like fools because they would be the one’s who really caused it
  in general, try to veer to the right or left but first look in you’re mirrors to make sure that you aren’t blocking the ambulance or police car etc.

• ATTN: Richard Berger NYS EMT

  TO: Richard Berger, NYS EMT….

  you say that people don’t properly respond and/or use caution and clear a path for oncoming emergency vehicles with lights and sirens due to "sound muting materials newer vehicles are made from". so now i have a question. are other states and area’s outside of new york city not privileged to these cars made of "sound muting material"? why is it that this problem only exists here, in new york city. if you argue that it doesn’t, then you are gravely wrong. i have been to many different states (besides countries) and i know for myself, and i’m sure many people here can attest to it too, that new york city is the only place where cars do not care for lights and sirens.

• TO BROOKLYN EMT

  TO:BROOKLYN EMT.
  YOU ARE NOT G-D!!! STOP SOUNDING AS IF YOU ARE!
  YOU SEEM TO SAY ,ALL DRIVERS MUST RUN OUT THE WAY! YOU BLAME ALOT OF DRIVERS OF MOVING TO SLOW.
  ONECE AGAIN,THE DRIVERS THAT HEAR OR SEE THE LIGHTS MUST MOVE VERY CAREFUL OUT OF THE WAY.IT MIGHT SEEM SLOW TO YOU ,BUT NOT TO A DRIVER THAT DOES NOT WANT TO MAKE A ACCIDENT.THANK YOU. NYPD MEMBER

• KINGS MEDIC

  ATTN: nassau emt

  of course it is agreed that motorists need to stop or clear a path for emergency vehicles, and not tailgate either. you’re reasoning though for that is "in case we need to start a line". do you mean an I.V.(IntraVenous) line? because if so, that is not the case. paramedic’s don’t need to stop an ambulance to insert an IntraVenous Catheter. they can do it quite well while the vehicle is in motion, i know because i see it everyday. (including 14G’s!!)-(that means a BIG needle).

  IF the patient lost alot of volume (whatever the cause may be), or the patient needs medication to be administered through an Intravenous Line, then the paramedic would have or SHOULD have done it before they left to the hospital. otherwise, if the patient is not in critical need of an I.V., then they would transport without.

  now for some reason, if the paramedic feels that it is necessary to start an I.V. DURING the transport to the hospital, then they would do it without stopping the ambulance. (and why would they have to make a short stop to start an I.V., according to you??)
  the only time the ambulance may come to a complete stop during a transport would be for CPR, and even that is debatable.

  (p.s. last i checked, emt’s don’t start lines)

• no jews were involved

  being that this is a jewish website, webby feels the need to inform us right away whether a jew was involved in the incident or not. if this were for the black community, then it would say "no black people were involved". if it were for a chinese community, it would state "no chinese people were involved" etc. (unless black people and chinese people WERE involved).
  webby is not being a racist if thats what everyone is worried about. yes, it’s true that it can be interpreted like that, but it is not the case.

  the only thing is i ask of you, webby, that since many people from many places read you’re website, please be careful how you write you’re articles. since some things can be misinterpreted, you should try to stay as politically correct as possible without changing details or facts of a news story.

  the last thing we need is crownheights.info on the front page of the daily news being accused by al sharpton for being a jewish racist news source etc. (although that would probably bring you more publicity lol)

• No jews were hurt

  I agree with Yisroel:
  On terms of someone getting hurt, it does not matter whether it was a jew or not…its a human being!

  However this website is primarily serving the Crown Heights JEWISH Community. Therfore, when it says no jews were involved its not inflamatory, its just pointing out that nobody from our community was involved eg. friends. family……. STOP LOOKING FOR PROBLEMS!!!

• Brenda M Morrissey, EMT

  New York drivers, specifically New York City drivers, are the most uncaring and unpredictable I have ever seen. I have been involved in EMS for quite some time and it kills me every time someone won’t move over to the right, tailgates the ambulance while we’re driving down the parkway so they have a clear route through traffic, or just won’t stop and look right at you like YOU have the problem. I am ecstatic, however, to read an article which described an ambulance-involved accident as the fault of the other driver. Usually it is "the ambulance drove through the red light" or "they were speeding". EMS providers in New York have a hard enough job, whether volunteers or paid, without the added burden of being made publically responsible for an accident, and I am glad someone reported an EMS accident that didn’t point a finger at the crew.

  Unfortunately, not much can truly help a pedestrian or bicyclist hit full force by a vehicle. I feel horribly that this man suffered such severe injury.

  All I ask as an EMS provider if for people to ATTEMPT courtesy…if you can’t fit into the right lane-DON’T stop short, if you can’t stop in time crossing the intersection- DON’T flip me the bird (yes people do this), and whatever you do- DO NOT TAILGATE- we stop at accidents and we’d all prefer NOT to be an accident because someone was admiring our back doors from 5 feet away.

  Although another poster thanked FDNY and EMS Volunteers- the PAID EMS community (private, municipal, and hospital-based) also provides care to everyone, regardless of creed, color, etc. and so forth.

  Let us hope for a speedy recovery for all involved, and swift justice for the SUV driver, who will probably get off with a summons at worst.

• *chavi

  ‘People whats wrong with you. What difference does it make whether it was a jew or not. We all people of equal rights.’

  Obviously. But check out past accidents, fires, etc. when ‘Webby’ didn’t write ‘B”H there were no Yidden involved in this terrible accident.’ There were like 10 different people who asked ‘well was there any Jews involved?’ so apparently he wrote it so he wouldn’t get comments asking if there were Jews involved or not. Right? Right.
  :-)
  Moshiach Now..

• Anonymous

  Ok everyone, STOP! Slow Down and Calm Down!

  CrownHeights.info is a website that serves the Jewish community of Crown Heights.

  In the past I have covered accidents in our community in which there were no Yidden involved and the barrage of comments coming in asking “Were there any Jews involved?” was abnormal.

  This is a funny situation, like for example I once received comments complaining that when I wrote up a mugging incident I wrote “the perp was a male black” and people began complaining that I am making it sound like its “all the black people”! Can you believe that? Well unfortunately yes I can, just look at all of you who went and criticized me for informing my Jewish readers of what they want to know!

  Another point, after a year and a half of reporting I find that people would always look for the negative in things, like criticizing me for the way I report things, and I know that no one can change the way people are, but just note that comments that just criticize have no longer found a place on this site, for the most part, and will not be tolerated!

  Now about the article I must apologies to all of my readers here the female TECH on the ambulance (passenger EMT) is in fact Jewish! I was misinformed!

  Anyways, if an EMT abuses his Lights & Sirens or not, its not your business, it’s the EMTs business, and you should not be the judge and say “well im not moving” you have no right to do such a thing, you single handedly endanger peoples lives that way!

  G-D should help us all and we shouldn’t have the need for emergency medical care! Like the Rebbe said in a Sicha about Hatzalah, that if we all had more Ahvas Yisroel we wouldent have the need for Ambulances, and hence the reason it says on the back of each of the Hatzalah Ambulancecs “VeAhavta Leraiacha Kamocha” (Love Your Fellow Like Yourself).

  Webby,

• Itzik_s

  Don’t worry about the delivery guy, he has 3 deep insurance pockets to sue: Ambulence, SUV and Raskins (workers comp). He’s going to be a milionare!

  ————————————————————
  Raskin’s? He was delivering for Mr Greens.

  And as for the BH no yidden comment, don’t worry about the characters who seem to pop up out of the woodwork every time you call a spade a spade. This is a private community resource and there is no need to worry about "ma yomru hagoyim." I often wonder how these so called goyim understand every Yiddish expression that you use on this site!

• On of the Chevra

  For those of us who are Jewish: if you think there is no difference between a yid and a goy then there is something severely wrong with you.

  For those of us who aren’t: compare it to your immediate family, if you knew that one of the buses of the school your child attends was involved in a accident, if you were normal, you’d be concerned mainly about your childs welfare. Jews (and especially religious Jews) worldwide are a close-knit community, like a special club, and we are concerned about each other’s welfare. Assuring that none of ‘us’ were hurt is a normal, healthy sign of unity between a people bound together by community, religion, and history. I’d tend to think that the average non-Jewish guy in NYC does not ‘belong’ to a community, and therefore can’t relate to this. How sad.

  Writting "fortunatly only blacks were involved" would show blind hatred, since all it said was that none of "our clique" were hurt, wich is a relief, especially if it could have been a relative or aquaintence.

  Use your brains chevra!

• veggie fan

  #1. Webby, you’re 100% right. THANK YOU for keeping us informed. You KNOW you can’t please people here right now…must be the heat!!

  #2. I just spoke to Mr. Green’s (I’m a customer), & I asked him how the delivery guy is. Apparently, he’s not doing well. He needs surgery but he is conscious. Rabbi Lieder is keeping an eye on him, he’s in Kings County. Mr. G. goes to visit him.

  He thinks he’s covered, but I suggested that the customers chip in…after all, he does deliver for us, his family whom he supports is in South America. Mr. G. was quite pleased & said it was a very nice idea. He’ll have a better idea if a fund is necessary on Monday. I said I’d call back.

  Webby, I suggested this last night (maybe I didn’t click send!!) that all customers chip in $20.00. It’s not a fortune, but it will add up. And to all those people who are doing the Yid v. Goy stuff … would you be the first to dip into your pockets? Even if he is covered, I’m sure there’ll be a need.

• Itzik_s

  hope whoever on here who actually cares whether it was a yidden or not and are" GLAD TO HEAR NO YIDDEN WHERE INVOLVED" wake up and realize what there saying you morons a life is a life you place yourself higher than anyone else whne you say that which makes you racist nypd should not even acknowledge hatzolah and it hasnt been oroven they are affective anymore EMS has come along way since it was first created , ive worked with hotzolah and ive seen with my own eyes thenleaving the scene foy "goys" as you all put it, and for that tey shoudl be arrested not thanked < you wanna help your OWN correct lets not forget all the AMERICAN SOLDIERS THAT DIED DURING WW2! WHO DID THEY DIE TRYING TO FREE FROM PERSECUTION! T ime to get over yourselves and wake up !
  ————————————————-

  The above screed comes from a dyed in the wool anti-Semite with an axe to grind. Please be careful when allowing such people a platform.

  The real US record vis a vis the Jews during WW2 is a complete shame, and only an anti-Semite could say that soldiers were there to free Jews from persecution. They were there to make sure ymach shmo did not conquer the US. They also did not shed a tear when Roosevelt oichet ymach shmo turned Jews away.

• Normal to ask about family first

  I think it’s quite the norm to wonder if the victims are a member of your family, community, etc
  Anyone, of ANY persuasion that hears something on the news about a tragedy (fire, car accident) thinks first "Was any of my family involved? What about friends, and extended, etc"
  I agree we have to have compassion for all people, but it would be ABNORMAL to weigh everyone at the same level – maybe like PETA, who consider animals equal or greater than humans

• I-m sorry

  After reading the posts explaining the comments that thank goodness there were no Yids involved, that it was merely meant as asking if there were family involved, I must offer my apologies, because I never thought of it that way before.
  Please accept my humble apologies and my continued prayers for the People of Crown Heights. I would do anything to make you all see that all Goys are not evil.

• BronxNorthFDNYguy

  Webby,

  You rock! Thanks for the post too – you’ve set the record straight too. Shees some folks have no life.

  Funny thing here, is I being an EMT with FDNY read your blog everyday, I have a special fondness to Crown Heights. The Rebbe touched more people then you know.

  That said, I believe your coverga eof the ambulance MVA has brought out alot of fellow techs…your coverage was better then anything I’ve seen and was alerted to it by 2 Paramedics on that day. keep it up.

• TROUBLE

  To veggie fan;
  Great idea and a wonderfull kiddush hashem.

  To webby;
  No matter what you do, people will always find the negative.
  forget them and keep up the great work.

  TO all EMT’s blogging on this site;
  It is wonderfull to see so many (dare i assume jewish ) EMTs together on one site( hey webby I think you should make an EMS chat room for us). I think its great that you all care and for the most part I agree with you.so municuple, voluntery, volunteer, non-practicing, retired and any one I did not mention (OK fine hatzolah to, KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK, BE CAREFULL AND REMEMBER YOUR SAFETY COMES FIRST. if your hurt , you do more damage than good for the people your trying to help

• FDNY Paramedic

  Some observations:

  In the 18 years ‘ve worked traveled and worked in Emergency Services all over the world. NYC drivers are the only ones I’ve ever encountered who in general will not OBEY THE LAW and pull over to the right side when a vehicle with emergency lights and sirens activated is behind them. I’ve been flipped off, cursed out, chased down, and threatened by drivers and pedestrians while responding in the NYC Metropolitan area. I’ve literally had delivery drivers who have stopped in front of me, double parked, got out, and made a delivery (while blocking me in) while I’ve been going red lights and sirens with an unstable patient in the back of my truck. While responding to an unconscious, another double parked delivery driver, while strolling out to his truck that had me blocked in said, and I quote: "Hey, we all have a job to do."

  I am reminded of people like them and the driver of the SUV that triggered this accident when I think of the story a partner once told me about a call he had. There was a guy driving slowly in front of him while he was responding to an unconscious. The person refused to yield to him for more than several blocks and he wasn’t able to safely pass him. He finally managed to pass the car and proceed to the address. When he got to the call, the patient had just gone into cardiac arrest. About 5 minutes later, who shows up but the husband of the patient, who had been the one who refused to yield to the ambulance. The patient died because her own family refused to OBEY THE LAW and yield to an emergency vehicle….

  Another observation: it was mentioned previously by "respect emergency vehicles" that "we do not respect emergency vehicles in ny cuz they abuse theire privelage when they turn the sirens on to pass the red light and get a bagel or anything els and not responding to an emergency. hatzolah is diffrent". I can personally attest to the fact that hatzolah is NOT DIFFERENT. I have witnessed on at least 4 occasions a member of hazolah utilizing emergency lights and sirens for non-emergency purposes (going through a red light). I’m not saying all members of hazolah abuse the priviledge that has been granted them, but do not hold up hazolah as being exempt from the sort of abuse you claim.

  I keep using OBEY THE LAW in bold because it is part of NYS traffic law that drivers are REQUIRED to yield to vehicles with emergency lights and sirens. Criminal charges and fines may be applied to drivers who violate this section of the VTL.

  In other parts of the country, police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances have installed video cameras that can capture the vehicle and license plate of drivers who fail to yield and then those drivers are charged with a summons. Imagine how response times would drop in NYC and how the positive outcome on our patients would rise if we were to install such a system here….

• A Caring Neighbor

  Response to veggie fan:

  SR,

  My wife spoke to one of “Delivery Man” (why don’t we know his name?) ’s co-worker who informed her that that the owners of Mr. Green’s will be helping out with providing him with lawyers for the eventual court case. I cannot confirm that this is true (as I have not spoken with the owners of Mr. Green) but based on their track record, I trust they will do the right thing.

  Mr. Greens have been excellent community “social citizens” with their constant giving of produce to the poor, Erev Pesach produce give away, and a tefillin campaign when one of our community members were killed. Leads me to believe they will go beyond the call of duty in this case too.

  My toddler daughter is a friend of “Delivery Man” ( although I must admit I still do not know his name) who always made her laugh when we were in the store.

  We are all deeply concerned for those who were hurt in the accident.

  A caring neighbor

• shmuel

  ATTN: bronx north fdny and FDNY paramedic….

  first of all, who are u guys? thats so cool that this website has spread so far and wide to even NYC EMS emt’s and medics!

  second, i agree with you, "fdny medic", %100 that there should be mounted camera’s in all the ambulances to record which vehicles don’t allow the ambulance to pass and then send them a fine. wow could you imagine the ETA for a response then?!

  i know some private ambulance companies have camera’s in the window like Midwood ambulance and Einstein, but those are just for MVA’s (Motor Vehicle Accidents).

  anyway, keep it safe out there guys.

• I am a NYS/EMT also

  You know I agree with all my fellow EMS personnel. But than again all my fellow EMS personnel are blaming the public for this problem of not being wary of their surroundings when there is an ambulance going with L&S. If you want to know the truth we are more equally responsible for public saftey when going L&S not just John Q Public driving. If you (EMS personnel) have taken a CEVO class you know you have to be more wary when going L&S as well not just John Q Public.

  I am hoping that all involved in this tragic accident are doing better.

  Gut Voch

• Ex-Assist Employee

  Listen everyone, my friend was the driver of that ambulance on that day. We worked closely together until I left assist and was employed by MIDWOOD ambulance. That day was a tragic day for everyone involved, even for the person who caused the accident. Lets take a moment, and be greatful that there was no loss of life or lives on that day. I really hope that this teaches people to be careful driving and that ambulances are saving lives and when you impede an ambulance you increase the risks of death to the person they are called on to treat and render care to.