By Carol Tannenhauser
An 84-year-old woman died as a result of injuries sustained when she was struck by a van at the intersection of Amsterdam Avenue and W. 96th Street, on Sunday, January 15th, according to a police report.
Young Kwon, of 275 West 96th Street, was crossing Amsterdam from east to west at about 7:29 p.m., when the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris, heading north in the center lane, hit her. The 58-year-old male driver remained on the scene and did not sustain any injuries. The woman was transported to Mount Sinai Morningside hospital in stable condition with neck and back pain, but, later that night, “her condition became life threatening and she succumbed to her injuries,” police reported.
The collision is being investigated by the NYPD’s Highway Collision Investigation Squad.
Being an elder on the UWS is a life-threatening condition. Thus it is a neighborhood of shut-ins. Rest in Peace Madam Kwon. You deserved a better ending.
This intersection is incredibly dangerous and what a terrible tragedy to bring that to light yet again. All up Amsterdam drivers are continuously changing lanes to navigate around double and triple parked delivery trucks. The massive (unused) dining shed outside The Plant Shed on 95th makes the 96th street intersection particularly dangerous. There seems to be zero enforcement by NYC Traffic Police thus making the avenues a treacherous place for drivers and pedestrians.
Honestly how is this intersection “incredibly” dangerous? Other than a dining shed you mentioned, which exist on a zillion other avenues and streets, what is unique at this location?
Nothing. Watch the lights – walk when clear.
What IS dangerous are overly fast drivers, or those who think they can time the lights. Let’s get more info here…but the fact that the driver stayed on scene tells me something odd occurred in this instance.
The Traffic officers of the NYPD are not empowered to enforce anything except parking/standing regulations.
She was in the center lane, so either she wasn’t supposed to be there, or he wasn’t. I hope NYC takes a pedestrian friendly look at this tragedy.
If he was speeding, it was negligent homicide.
Very unfortunate. Sounds like a horrible accident.
However, as someone who drives often I always have wondered why streets throughout all of NYC including the UWS are not bright. Intersections should be very bright as for drivers many other things catch your eyes at night which can be very dangerous for any pedestrian.
This specific intersection alone could use some better lighting especially for the crosswalks.
The Amsterdam and Broadway intersections of 96th street are incredibly dangerous. This morning, because of gridlock pedestrians are forced to weave in and out of cars that tried to beat the light on the way to the west side highway but got stuck in the intersection between the north and southbound broadway lanes. There is no enforcement, and it’s a terrible place to have to walk. Either the timing of the lights needs to be changed, or significant enforcement needs to be done.
I estimate that each day 1000 cars blow the light at 96th and Broadway alone. It’s comically bad for pedestrians. And 96th and WEA just might be worse.
and how many pedestrians blow the lights each day in manhattan? dont want to be hit by car? wait for the green light!
You should be ashamed of that post of yours.
I certainly have sympathy for the accident victim. But having lived in Manhattan for decades, I can assert that the number of pedestrians crossing against the light far exceeds the number of cars that disobey red lights. If the driver had the light and was unable to stop in time, I would consider him a victim as well. Who wants to live with that? Let’s wait for the facts.
Most importantly, my condolences to her and her family.
I am glad the driver stayed on the scene.
The question is who had the light. I’m sure that can be determined fairly easily.
Carlos, You ask, “who had the light”. But from what I am aware, accidents may happen when BOTH have the light. Cars making a turn with a green light at an intersection may hit a pedestrian crossing the street with the same green light at the very same time. A driver making a turn too fast may not see the pedestrian who is crossing the intersection at the same time. Too many drivers try to make a fast, screeching turn in front of a car coming at them from the opposite direction or do not pay sufficient attention to see if there is a pedestrian crossing the street as they make their turn.
The bottom line is, pedestrians always have the right of way. Drivers may have a green light but someone may be crossing who can’t be seen or isn’t moving fast enough or whatever, but pedestrians always have the right of way even when they’re wrongly crossing against a light. And yes, the double parking in the lanes make traffic very erratic, and driving safely very difficult.
Totally agree with you that too many drivers recklessly make turns without looking for pedestrians. This is a huge problem. Other points:
1. Drivers need to be much more careful when making turns.
2. Pedestrians need to make their best efforts to cross quickly. This does not mean those who move slowly deserve to be mowed down. But it does mean that pedestrians should show some consideration and not slow down to check their phone while crossing with a car waiting to turn.
3. The article says he was going north in the center lane so it is unlikely he turned into her in this case. Your point is still very important but is not relevant here.
4. People (not you specifically but many other posters) have pre-conceived notions and assume that it is always the drivers fault or always the pedestrians fault. Too many people see the world in black and white – it is very sad. Let’s find out what really happened. I have no idea so I am eager to know. I appreciate WSR reporting on this and hope they follow up.
I’ve contacted our various representatives, most recently Gail Brewer in person on the street, about getting red light cameras at the 96th Street intersections, especially Broadway and WEA. The sound of crickets is deafening. The traffic agents when they are there are inept and clueless.
A 24/7 traffic cop is not realistic. An unblinking eye that gives out tickets is. My guess is those licenses are very readable and income producing while a great step up in safety.
I’d go further. When there are traffic cops at those intersections they see their job as to get cars moving not protecting pedestrians. Not infrequently I have to make noise as one of these folks waves a car through a red light without looking to see if pedestrians are crossing (with the walk signal) behind them.
Why automatically blame the driver? How about waiting for facts? There is nothing in the story to indicate that the driver was speeding or not stopping if the signal was red.
Lets hold off on the recriminations of both peds and drivers till the accident report is actual in with the facts on what happened. As for camaras, they are already at the intersection well as a redlight Camara
She was a very sweet neighbor of mine. She was a very cheerful and happy old lady who loved everyone. She would be truly missed.
A sober driver who remains at the scene almost certainly will not be charged, no matter who was at fault. The indifference with which we treat such deaths is reflected in the way they are reported: the woman was “struck by a van.” No human agency At least the reporter avoided the word “accident.”
accident: an unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury
What is wrong with using a word accident in this case?
Based on what we know so far, what would be the basis for charging the driver?
I actually got stopped by a cop for jaywalking years ago near middle of the long block 72nd Bwy and West End. Cars zip around the corner doing right turn from W End going East. Also those going West on 72nd blow the light regularly at W End (on way to the W Side Hwy entrance). I personally saw 2 people mowed down in that crosswalk over the years, and a 3rd get his head crushed crossing 72 and Bwy by a turning truck. . If I’m 50 yards up the block I can see the cars coming and decide if I want to cross or not, can’t at the corner. I live here and drive here, I know what I’m talking about. Cop let me go.
I was there and saw it happen. I didn’t realize she had passed – but not surprising given what I saw. The driver had the right of way. He wasn’t speeding and he had the light. It’s unfortunate that she tried to cross the road away from the crosswalk. Terrible loss. Unnecessary.