Photo of the Day: November 27, 2009
Morning Roundup: Black Friday Edition
Car Pushed Into Anacostia River By Train
Devendra Banhart @ 9:30 Club
The Metrobus driver who struck 30-year-old jogger Amanda Mahnke at the intersection of Connecticut and Florida Avenues NW last week was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, according to a statement given to WTOP's Adam Tuss by Metro spokesperson Lisa Farbstein. No charges have been filed in the crash, and the identity of the driver has not yet been released. Mahnke, who is the communications director for Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA), is reported to be in stable condition currently at George Washington University Hospital. An MPD investigation into the collision is ongoing.
Bus Driver Who Hit Jogger Tested Negative for Drugs, Alcohol
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebookComments (20) [rss]
Post a comment (Comment Policy)
Tips
Contribute
Latest Tip:
We went to the Macy's at 12th & G this morning for the Black Friday morning specials. There was a sh
[more]
Great, I'm glad we got all the testing out of the way. Now....how about teaching those a-holes how to DRIVE S-A-F-E-L-Y?! Because I don't think that was covered. With any of them.
Well...we don't know that this jogger wasn't jaywalking with her headphones on, do we? We were all quick to judge the Takoma Park Metro driver and she did everything right. Let's wait before we call the poor woman an asshole, ok?
No, you're totally right. But at the same time, it's hard to shrug off the number of accidents that have been attributed to careless driving practices over the past 5 years or so. Also, as someone who has witnessed countless Metro buses blatantly running red lights and ignoring other rules of the road, I tend to just assume the worst.
"We were all quick to judge the Takoma Park Metro driver and she did everything right"
+1. I think it is a little premature to be condemning this particular bus driver as an a-hole or a reckless driver. As the post said, the MPD investigation is ongoing. Here is to hoping the jogger heals quickly and nobody unjustly losing their living.
Before we get into a blame the driver/jogger/biker discussion, let's just admit that bus, cab and other drivers flout traffic laws, just as pedestrians routinely jaywalk and cyclists--especially bike messengers--consider themselves exempt from many traffic laws, but expect others to follow the law to the letter.
It's a screwed up situation in the streets. The only way to keep things like this incident from happening is if we all take our time to get where we need to go and keep our eyes wide open.
Well, okay, but let's just admit that EVERYBODY flouts traffic laws and EVERYBODY expects others to follow the law to the letter.
Yes, sorry about the poor phrasing but I meant to say that everyone expects other people to follow the law. I've done it myself.
Or, in other words, yes, you are exactly right.
I think it's probably a combination of blame.
As a pedestrian, I always use common sense when crossing the street. I don't care if I have the right of way. When I see a ton or more of metal coming my way, I'm going to get out of its way.
I'd rather be alive and unbroken than in the right.
She was wearing headphones. Just sayin.
yeah, i don't want to play 'blame the victim' here, but you do need to be responsible for paying attention to your surroundings.
This isn't really a 'blame the victim' situation, unless one is to presume the bus driver was driving recklessly or at fault. It is entirely possible that she was a victim of her own poor judgment.
She was in the crosswalk. Just sayin'.
We always blame the participants. While they're responsible for their behavior, one of the best ways to ensure proper behavior is proper enforcement. If I got a penny for every time a police officer watched a traffic violation and did nothing, I'd be a millionaire. And when we do hear about them enforcing the law, it's for jaywalking or biking the wrong way down a one way. I'd like to see mass pull overs of cars. Then people would be more careful about obeying the laws.
" I'd like to see mass pull overs of cars" There are mass pull overs of cars, they're call speed traps, and occur about 100 times as often as police bike salmoning stings. I'm a cyclist and I don't own a car, but the notion that the police are out to get us is completely wrongheaded. Personally, I'm ALL FOR ticketing bike salmoners. By and large, us cyclists get get away with far too much. With that said, let us treat stop signs as yield signs. It's perfectly safe... annoying to drivers, but safe.
Well yes, pull over cars, but get the jaywalkers too! It is extremely dangerous to cross in the middle of the street. If I got hit in such a situation (and I admit to being guilty of jaywalking), it'd be my fault.
I'll release the name of the Metro Bus Driver:
Robert Novak
Even worse!! It's ZOMBIE Robert Novak!!
Everybody run! He's back and he's after more than brains...
Well, the late Mr. Kennedy didn't earn Driver of the Year for nothing, no?
Watch out ladies, brains and booze! Zombie Ted Kennedy is on a rampage!