Young Marine Killed Crossing NYC Street During Fleet Week

Driver Stops, Calls 9-1-1; Officials: No Alcohol Involved

May 26, 2011 8:30 PM

Police, military personnel investigate Fleet Week tragedy (credit: CBS 2)

Reporting Sean Adams

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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Fleet Week began with the impressive parade of ships, but its first day ended tragically for one young Marine.

A 22-year-old Marine visiting Manhattan for the first time was struck and killed Thursday by a car while crossing 12th Avenue. The Marine was hit just before 1:00 a.m. as he was getting out of a cab with fellow servicemen at 12th Avenue and 49th Street.

Investigators said there is no indication he was intoxicated.

WCBS 880′s Sean Adams: Fleet Week Is Supposed To Be A Chance For Servicemen To Escape The Perils Of Combat

The accident happened not far from Pier 88 where some of the ships taking part in Fleet Week are now moored. The Marine was returning to his ship, the USS Iwo Jima.

The young man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police officers and military personnel converged in the middle of the street to investigate the tragedy.

Marine Capt. Christopher Kupka said soldiers are briefed about what to watch out for while away from their ships.

“This is New York. [There are] a lot of vehicles, a lot of people, a lot of crosswalks. It’s just an unfortunate situation,” said Capt. Kupka, who hails from Westchester County.

It was a situation very similar to the 2003 accident that claimed that life of a Navy sailor who was struck and killed by a livery cab in Tribeca. Not surprisingly, Marines that CBS 2′s Jay Dow spoke with said Thursday morning’s fatal accident will make it difficult to focus on what is typically a joyous week.

“Yes, it does, but like I said, we’re here to show the city of New York what the military, Marine Corps and Navy team what it’s all about, so like I said, prayers go out to the family and friends, and it’s a tragic situation,” Marines Sgt. Christopher Perez said.

1010 WINS’ Steve Sandberg reports: Fellow Marines React To Death Of Their Own

Police said the 39-year-old driver of a 2003 silver Acura realized he struck someone and stopped a block later, called 911 and then walked back to the scene. The driver has not been charged.

WCBS 880′s Marla Diamond: Ray Kelly Says There’s No Criminality Here

Investigators confirmed the Marine, who was in uniform, was crossing 12th Avenue when he was struck. At 49th Street, there is no crosswalk.

“This is a sad day for the Marine Corp, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family of this Marine,” Col. Frank Donovan, commander of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit base at Camp Lejeune, NC, said at a morning briefing near the pier.

WCBS 880′s Rich Lamb: Mayor Bloomberg Called For Moment Of Silence Thursday

The Marine’s name was withheld pending family notification.

The Corps has not disclosed funeral arrangements for their fallen Marine.

PHOTO GALLERY: Fleet Week 2011

There are some 3,000 military servicemen in the city for Fleet Week, which runs through June 1.

Can more be done to make the city safer for visiting military personnel? Sound off in our comments section below…

Young Marine Killed Crossing NYC Street During Fleet Week

tom n texas

Learn to spell and run back to i-ran you f*cking wanna be…f8ckn raghead…akbar sux my arse
Veteran

Hopefully a whole lot, too bad you weren’t one of them big boy.
Marine WIFE

shut your fking mouth

msg jr

semper fi sister
Gomer Pyle

Gargle my man-sac.

Erik V

God Bless the Marine and his family. That road is easy to get going at a speedy clip & it’s such a shame to have happen. Even if it was an accident I’m sure the driver will have difficulty dealing with the fact he killed one of our heroes. :/
Old Msg

When you think aboult it Mr Morality. This young marine died protecting your right to make vour comments. Semper Fi

Daniel Sherfy

It is Marine not marine.

Bob Dillon

What is your problem Daniel?? You are a moronic grammar Nazi.. WHO CARES ABOUT FREAKING CAPITALIZATION of one word?

By the way, your comments are completely out of line, and assuming that you really are a marine, I am sending my petition to the marine Corp for your immediate dishonorable dismissal. Might as well get yourself killed in battle while you wait.

Also, the person who killed the marine i’m sure feels lubriciously bad. That person doesn’t need to come upon your comments. That person is not to blame and should not feel guilty for accidentally killing a drunken marine.
Kevin Winters

What is your problem Bob Dillon? It isn’t just a word. Sometimes if I am being lazy in text message, email or other informal form of correspondence, I may not capitalize the first-person singular pronoun, or I may not capitalize my name, but I ALWAYS capitalize Marine and it has nothing to do with grammar or spelling it is out of respect.
Kevin Winters
GYSGT USMC(Ret.)
TheSwabbie

AMEN!!!!! These MORONS commenting about captalization are I G N O R A N T Fools.. Just as its NOT “navy seal” its “Navy SEAL”, its the PROPER way to write the name Marine. Sometimes dontcha just wish you could reach through the Internet and grab these CLOWNS by the throat and THROTTLE them! Semfer Fi Green Brother!

sng

Ha.. The usual village idiot comments ..
Case

Keep it up el-said! We’re coming for iran next.
Devin

You insult me with an obnoxious banner (actually two) ad when I open your webpage, then another one when I play the video? Good-bye.

John Knight

right on devin!! all these freakin obnoxious ads popping up everywhere just insure that I won’t EVEn think about purchasing their product.

Sean in Ca

That’s ‘ensure”

Hermann

Devin you SHOULD consider READING the text that is presented as the article. Videos are for entertainment, and for those who are not capable of understanding the written word. Verbal/written word communications is much appreciated by those who communicate in a like manner.
JM in San Diego CA

The ads pay for the presentation. My grandkids know that.. Would you like an appointment for tutoring if they’re available???

redcons2

city underlockdown for grown adults??
ROBBOB

@Mr Morality Moron is the Biggest Loser

Boy what a hypocrit. Apparently you positioon is that no one is sopposed to express an opinion critisizing someone elses opinion.

WhatADumbSchmuk

du yu no haou 2 evin tiipe a engrish sintins the rite waa?

Mr. Morality

We are entitled to out opinions.

I didnt wish any bodily harm so what are you referring to?

andrew

hopefully a bar where the other patrons (civilians) were buying him drinks all night. The way it was for me, and the way it should be…

OBAMAS’ BRAIN child

AT Abdul, Mr. Happy to be here in America, you’ll be the next one to go based on your stupidity. USA…………..Like or get the HELL OUT

>>>>>>CORRECTION>>>>>>>

ABOVE:…………TERRIBLE MISTAKE…..ABDUL COULD ONLY WISH TO BE OBAMAS” BRAIN CHILD………

CORRECTION:……………..HE’S THE BRAIN CHILD OF OSAMA BIN LADEN

Sarha

“— just before 1:00 am thursday—” . Having missed this reported figure, morality, you appear to be one of ‘those’, who read the headlines and make up their own story. Obama’s law: puinsh the opposition, and reward the obamaites.
Mr. Morality

Where wqas the maine coming from at 1am

USMC mother

none ya
Huuf Arted

shut ur f*cking hole Mr, Morality before we shut it for you !
Dave Johanssen

Youir mom’s house
andrew

hopefully a bar where the other patrons (civilians) were buying him drinks all night. The way it was for me, and the way it should be…

B. Agostino

The driver in this day and age should get a medal for
actually stopping and calling 911 ,Sure this is sad and yes it happens
to people every day.
I think the city surely could improve street crossing signs and crosswalks
where this happened.
This avenue is a zoom zoom highway ,I guess a blood alcohol test was made
just to rule out any issues. Still NYC lets get a real safe crosswalk where
visitors and Navy members stay.
Jim R

God bless you brother. I will remember you on monday memoril day when I remember my brothers I lost in The Nam.
Ace

what are you talking about. He tried to put tolls in the city and that would have kept unnecessary cars entering the city. Which makes less cars in the city. Plus how can you make the city safer. thanks to our government in a whole. Not just Mike. We are always in debt and are short money. No money no improvements.
CSI

Hey looser. It says around 1 AM. what else do you want.
MR MORALITY MORON OF THE DAY

To “mr morality” YOUR LACK OF DECENCY PUTS YOU RIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE IDIOT LIST. WE AND YOUR FAMILY COULD ONLY HOPE YOU BECOME DRUNK AND HIT BY A CAR

Mr Morality Moron is the Biggest Loser

MM Moron of the Day. You are no better than him. In fact, since you are actually wishing bodily harm and even death on someone, you become the biggest moron of the day. All MM was doing was expressing his opinion about the possible intoxication of the victim, tasteless or not. You are the lowest form of humanity. Hope you live a long, happy, pointless life. God Bless You.

Hermann

‘respondant to MM Moronn’ You have a right, despite the objections of obama ,to critiicise the comments made by others. Supressing the rights of others to voice their opinion, defeats evaluation of that person as a whole—not knowing, can lead to adverse consequences.
PeepleOurStoopid

Osama is alive.

Huh?!

How is postulating the guy was drunk showing a ‘lack of decency’? Please show other reasons one would be walking in the middle of a street at 1 am against the light.

Reading is Fundamental

It wasn’t against a light, there was no crosswalk. The Marine guy didn’t have to be drunk in order to be in danger in this particular area. He was also most likely not a native of the area.

karl anglin

It was the Marines first NYC visit

http://lettingfreedomring.wordpress.com belleofliberty

It was just a tragic accident. Why not leave it at that?
zombierocket

The knowledgeable One, you are small minded and vile. Do YOU work 24/7?
Tandemfusion

This is probably a teenage boy’s effort at being provocative. Instead it simply exposes the horrid job your parents have done in raising you. The comment is beneath contempt.

PeepleOurStoopid

And yet…your comment reeks of contempt. I <3 hypocrites.

Jen

That’s right, no one should ever have a break from their job. Its completely healthy to work all of the time and it makes us much more effective at our jobs when we don’t have any downtime at all.
Have some damn respect for these beautiful people who have given up their lives to serve and make us safe protecting the United States of America. Whether he was killed in the line of duty or in an accident, I still salute him for his sacrifice to our country.
God Bless our women and men in the military, and God bless the USA.

Lillie

@ Jen, I applaud your comment. I’m a mother of a 22yr old son. I could only pray that he was as successfully productive as this young man was. That’s the problem with this world, people not only don’t value your everyday living but don’t value the men and women of the military. Perhaps we would all be in a better place if law enforcement would resort to shipping the criminals to fight the wars, instead of eating up our hard-earned tax dollars by placing them in prison with three meals a day,TV, visits,rec room snacks, money etc.

Jay

I live in Manhattan 17 years and know the area he was crossing, you have to be very careful anywhere when no crosswalk and at nightime, did this Marine not look when crossing, talking having fun and walk out in front of the car? Sadly, must have as the driver was not at fault and not ticketed. I feel sorry for the driver, can you imagine hitting someone that walks out in front of you when you have the right of way? Horrible, the driver has to live with tihs when wasn’t his fault. So sorry the Marine died. People be careful when crossing anywhere esp at night, and no light or crosswalk!

Jay Pierce

Accidents do happen but since when doesn’t the pedestrian have the right of way? The vehicle gets the right of way, that’s a new one on me.

PeepleOurStoopid

Physics: Car > Pedestrian
Jen

Jay P., if there had been a crosswalk, the pedestrian would have the right of way. You can’t walk onto a busy street and expect all the cars to come to a halt!
Tommy

The loss of this gentlemen is a tragedy, however the motorist is not at fault. I drive around Manhattan all day at work. Pedestrians in Manhattan are really, really bad. They cross against the light, they walk in the street, it is a joke. Bicycle riders are even worse. Cross on the green, not in between – remember that ad campaign ? I will pray for this Marine and his family this Memorial Day.
Detex

The car has the right of way when you are on a highway… 12th Ave is also known as the West Side Highway for a reason… It is tragic that this has happened but there are crosswalks spaced about every two or three blocks. At that point the pedestrian DOES have the right of way when the walk light is illuminated…
Daniel Sherfy

The law states that pedestrians have the right of way in all cases, period. The driver should have been sighted.
john

Only in Japan have I seen where the order of Right Of Way went 1. automobiles 2. bicycles 3. pedestrians. And oh by the way that was during my deployment to MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, JAPAN. Once a Marine, always a Marine. Semper Fi to our fallen brother.

midi-man

He is more worried about people smoking in parks and such, crime is getting out of hand again and he has his head buried in the sand

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Young Marine Killed Crossing NYC Street During Fleet Week

Driver Stops, Calls 9-1-1; Officials: No Alcohol Involved

May 26, 2011 8:30 PM

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