The bus driver accused of fatally running over a 70-year-old woman while on his way back to the depot and not stopping was held in lieu of $25,000 bond during his arraignment Wednesday, as new information about the gruesome accident came to light, authorities said.
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She was pronounced dead at the scene.
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In 2014, eight MTA bus drivers hit and killed pedestrians with the right-of-way.
White described anyone who would hit a pedestrian and drive away from the scene as an “unyielding and uncaring driver”.
Roper allegedly turned onto Fulton Street as Bell used her wheeled walker to cross the street.
A claim that has led to many on the web crying foul: ‘She was right in front of you and you never stopped!’
Countering that point, investigators have already said surveillance video clearly shows Bell with her walker in Roper’s line of sight several seconds before he even hit her.
Paul Roper, 48, was arraigned Wednesday on charges that included leaving the scene of an accident and failure to exercise due care in the death of Carol Bell, according to court records.
The Transit Workers Union President said: ‘This is a awful tragedy, and our hearts go out to all family and friends’. “We will closely follow the investigation, which is in a very early stage”.
The MTA says Roper has been suspended without pay. A few of these collisions led to misdemeanor charges under the city’s new Right of Way Law, sparking a campaign by TWU Local 100 to exempt bus drivers.
All three arrests were adjudicated, but it was not immediately clear how – or if the MTA knew Roper had been arrested three times while working for the agency.
But at an unrelated presser, Mayor de Blasio did say his administration remained resolute in its commitment to Vision Zero.
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“He just kept on going”, Mr Garcia said of the driver.
