[AP] Video shows bystanders ignoring hit-and-run victim

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080605...hit_and_run;_ylt=ApidAtEsSGeplnBdzgRotyBvzwcF

video at the link

BY STEPHEN SINGER, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 49 minutes ago

HARTFORD, Conn. - Police released chilling surveillance video of a hit-and-run accident in hopes of catching the unidientified driver who ran down a 78-year-old pedestrian, paralyzing him, and to show the callousness of bystanders who did nothing to help.

The gripping one-minute video shows the violent May 30 accident and bystanders' apparent lack of sympathy. No one rushes to Angel Arce Torres' aid, and no one bothers to stop traffic as Torres lays motionless in the street.

In the video, released by police Wednesday, Torres walks in the two-way street at 5:45 p.m. after buying milk at a local grocery. He is struck by a dark Honda that was chasing a tan Toyota. Both cars dart down a side street as Torres crumples to the pavement.

Several cars pass Torres as a few people stare from the sidewalk. Some approach Torres, but most stay put until a police cruiser responding to an unrelated call arrives on the scene.

Police suggested the video shows a city that has lost its moral compass.

"At the end of the day we've got to look at ourselves and understand that our moral values have now changed." Police Chief Daryl Roberts said. "We have no regard for each other."

Torres is paralyzed and remains in critical condition in Hartford Hospital.

His son, Angel Arce, begged the public for help.

"My father is fighting for his life," Arce said. "I would like the public right now to help us in identifying the car and the person that did this."

Robert Luna, who works at a nearby store, blamed witnesses for failing to help Torres. "It took too long to call police," he said Thursday. "Nobody did nothing."

Witness Bryant Hayre said he didn't feel comfortable helping Torres, who he said was bleeding and conscious.

"Whoever did this should be sent away for a long time," Hayre told The Hartford Courant. "It was as if he was a dog left in the street to die."

 

I saw this on the news just now and all the talking heads are going bonkers about people not helping...reminiscent of that rape thing that happened in hell's kitchen in NY a while back.

They even had the son on MSNBC and the anchor woman was asking him about his reaction to people "doing nothing".

At first, I bought into the hysteria a little. But then I thought it through. Yeah, it sucks that this guy is paralyzed. But is it really that terrible that people aren't immediately standing next to him?

It's not like an elderly guy fell down the stairs and needs help up. The guy got hit Meet Joe Black style in the streets. It's normal to be in shock. Then it's normal Not to to run over there because one might be afraid of getting hit yourself. Then you call the cops. It took 1 minute. 1 minute is not the longest time in the world. And it's not like a person running over there immediately would mean this guy's legs would work now?

It seems to me that the media is not thinking this through and just being sensationalists. Yes, people should stand over there soon to prevent cars from coming. But they're acting (well to me it seems like this) like if someone ran over in less than the 1 minute that it took, that this guy could walk again, like they did the wrong thing by being shocked and calling the cops from the side of the street. Here is a situation imo where the people could have done better, but I don't think they were doing Wrong.

 

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So do you think the pedestrians were bad? I just can't hate them the way the media is. My friend witnessed a freeway accident, climbed the freeway in the middle of the night to check on the guy and called the cops. He also had EMS training or something like that, but to me that was a very courageous and heroic thing he did that no one is really expected to do.

If it was the sidewalk, then yeah, stay close and call the cops. But again, do you not think that being afraid of getting smashed is a legit reason? Or shock? Or even though the cops did respond on another thing, what if people were calling the police about this too?

I think the people could have done better, especially those in cars b/c they should have blocked him off. But it's just weird when I hear on the news things like "the pedestrians could have gone over and helped him, but they didn't, those evil people!!!!!!!"

Really? The only thing they could have done more is be human shields against the cars, and that's a pretty dangerous thing and emotionally difficult considering what happened. If no one was calling the cops and they weren't in shock but just not caring....then that is a true shame and disgrace. But if they were watching and in shock or calling the cops, then that's okay. It just feels like some news reporters are making the pedestrians out to be worse than the hit and run guys...those are the real jerks in this case. They caused the old man's paralysis, not the pedestrians.