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

Grizzled

Not “worship”, merely the recognition of the sacrifices service people make in order to serve their country and their fellow citizens. Too bad you see that as “worship”. Perhaps you have been “brainwashed”…

RWD

We still have soldiers being held in Vietnam you fool. If people really cared about them as all of you lamers say, why haven’t the and you petitioned McCain the traitor liar that knows this? I have. You’re just another fake flake military groupie that makes me sick. All flags and bravado and no information or action. People in the military despise you pretenders that post here and do nothing for those left behind in prison camps. Go fire up Rambo on your TV you blithering degenerate.

TheSwabbie

You probably think aliens took Richard Nixon to the Mothership too.. MORON.. There are NO POW’s.. if there WERE any after 1973 they were KILLED as not to embarass the North Vietnamese. Its OVER.. DONE.. We will never forget.. but we also know the truth.. Something tells me you werent even Military.. just by the way you talk dude.. You aint one of us..

Holland

Brainwashed…is not seeing the fact that a young man in a dangerous career…in the midst of an experience of a lifetime…is killed while crossing the street. There is a sad irony there. It appears your code pink brain can’t appreciate that fact. You give him LESS sympathy BECAUSE he is military…and that is obvious.

RWD

My father was a Navy Scout and Raider .. that I bet you have never even heard of before as most of the fake macho trolls. Please save your BS for those that listen to little girls.

TheSwabbie

NAVY SCOUT/RAIDER.. THERE WAS/IS NO SUCH THING DUDE.. Its either ARMY SCOUT.. or MARINE RAIDER, both WWII designations. The Navy’s ONLY special operations force at that time were “UDT” and “NCDU”… Either you heard it WRONG or Your father embellished.. NO YOU save YOUR BS for those that want to listen to it. Oh.. and I will Lay MONEY on what I just told you bubba.

KP

This is to RWD,

Get your ass in order and give respect where respect is due, my guess is you have no respect for your Father either.

http://legitamystic.wordpress.com Gregory von Haesler

An excerpt about The Original American Dream per Greg von Haesler
Market

Marines have “brethren”. This writer should be brought over to Paris Island for w quick reminder to learn how to behave like an American.
Roy

Very sad…………..no matter who was at fault,it’s still a tragic acident,and a tragic loss for his family,and the country
gwen

a heartfelt sympathetic prayer is extended to the family of the marine. what a shame! how could that driver stop a block away? what was he on? more investigation should be done.

Jay

a block in the city isn’t very long, the important thing is he stopped.

Rubbo

There have been many accidents and fatalities along 12th Avenue over the years. For those unfamiliar with NYC, that stretch of road is more akin to a multi-lane highway than to a pedestrian area.

no-fun

Watch your language, Fung. I just reported you. If you don’t like it here, stay out of my city.
Rita

Have you ever driven the WSH? There aren’t actually blocks, it’s a highway, and the article says the Marine was crossing the highway in an area without a crosswalk. That’s insane. The driver called 911 and walked back since you can’t turn around on the WSH. It’s tragic, and the driver is also a victim here.
No One Is Listening To You

Marines don’t have comrades, Soviets do. What a poor choice of words.

AeroJack7

You are a true turd. I bet you never stuck your neck out to help anyone out other than yourself in your life. “Security, Homeland, terrorism” are not terms that someone just pulled out of their bums.

You can sit in your mommies basement plugging away on your computer while hundreds of thousands of Americans serve their country protecting you from untold terrors. You and your types make me want to puke.

I salute and support all who serve. God Bless you all.
bigsteve

Moron AeroJack, you can’t salute without being in the military, which I bet you are and were not. Also, do you know nothing of history? The reason someone might object to those terms is because they are highly correlated with a number of awful countries/regimes. Or do you not find that out in “mommy’s basement”?
TheSwabbie

Joe.. You are an IDIOT.. and NOwe are NOT Sheep.. The one thats discussed in this article, the Marine that lost his life was a S H E E P D O G.. you sir, are a FLEA on the dog.

BigSteve.. WRONG.. YES, former Military CAN salute the colors (recent new regulation).
JM in San Diego CA

@ No one: I don’t agree.

I was in the US Navy for 21 years, often working with and around Marines. When I read the word “comrades” I took it to mean his specific shipmates (USN or USMC) or some fellow Marines in general. There is nothing wrong with using the word “comrades.” If it happens to have been ill-used by a few Communists, so what? It’s a fine word, part of traditional Marine Corps sloganeering — Loyalty, Camaraderie, Esprit de Corps, etc.

If you need any reassurance, Google the word comrade but make your search site-specific by adding “site:usmc.mil” (without the quotes) and you will discover that the use of the word by Marines about Marines is common.

Semper Fidelis
HJS

And the United States should not have czars.

I mourn for my fellow Marine. A grateful nation thanks him for his service.
Semper Fidelis
(Always Faithful)
HJS USMC (Fmr)

Ken

Yes, I spend my free time in New York City trying to hit random Marines with my non-existent car. /sarcasm.

But on a more important note, no I have nothing against the Marines. Hell, my aunt was killed in a pedestrian-car accident five years ago- but sometimes horrible things happen. We can learn from them, but angry blame does nothing.
Ken

To Daniel — It is a horrible accident, but the laws are quite clear:

http://www.safeny.ny.gov/peds-vt.htm#sec1152

(a) Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway.
karl anglin

Thanks Mr D!!!!!!!!!!!!!
poster34

This is a tragic example of how unsafe our streets still are for pedestrians here in NYC, but I find it funny that people get all up in arms every time the city changes traffic patterns in order to slow cars down and make it safer for all road users. The bike backlash is a perfect example of this. You can count on one hand how many people have been killed by a cyclist-ped collision over the last 10 years. Yet with something like this happens and there is an out cry for safer streets, but as soon as the DOT tries the make a street safer there is an outcry that they are being anti-car when nothing could be more from the truth. I am truly sorry that this young man was killed in this manner when these same service men and women also have to put their lives on the line every day over seas.

bubba

OMG, so unsafe. I don’t know how I’ve managed to stay alive for 38 years. Oh right, I don’t try to defy the laws of physics.

Rubia

God forbid this would happen to one of your love ones i know u would’nt b saying all this trash n be so cold hearted …..

Rich

Dear CBS New York,

As the #1 Media Market in the US, I’d hope you have access to an AP Stylebook or the freaking internet (they put the internet on computers, phones, etc). But clearly not, so please note: it is Marine Corps, not Marine Corp. We are not a corporation, we are a military organization.

That being said, rest in peace, warrior. Semper Fi!

Denise

Absolutely. My son is a Marine, and my heart cracks each time I hear of a Marine’s death.

Rest in peace now, dear boy.

Semper Fi!

Ken

Why? Because at 1 a.m. a pedestrian crossed 12 avenue (effectively a highway) not in a crosswalk and driver didn’t see him? Yes the driver has some responsibility to avoid the Marine, but the Marine did cross at the wrong place. It’s just a very tragic accident.

Daniel Sherfy

I believe the law states that pedestrians have the right of way in all situations. The driver is at fault and should be sighted for killing my Marine Corps Brother. Rest in piece, Semper Fi!
Rick

I agree the driver is not at fault. He did the right thing as far as he is concerned. As a Marine that has been part of fleet week I know that this Marine was most likely just a bit inebriated. My question is about the cab that dropped them off. Surely there is a better place for his passengers to disembark!
Vicky

At Rick post you are right the cab has some fualt becuase if he would of dropped off the marine at a safer location he would still b alive, he probably saw the marine was a little typsy too…….

Irwin

This was a horrible, horrible accident. At this point, it does not seem like it is anyone’s fault and the driver did NOT try to get away. Let’s learn a lesson and always look both ways when getting out of cabs and crossing the crowded streets of Manhattan.
MadDog92

Comrades?? This is the USA not Russia. We are neither comrades nor cosmonauts. We are Marines and astronauts.
Ken

You do realize that New York City blocks are less than 200 ft long due to the NYC grid system? It’s not a long distance.

Daniel Sherfy

Ken,
What is your problem? Do you just hate Marines or are you the guy who hit him?

Mathman54

How crowded is that area? Would it be reasonable to assume the driver pulled over a block away simply because that was the first available place to pull over?

Ken

Yes, it would be very reasonable to assume that. As the above commenter said, 12 ave effectively functions like a highway, but it has crosswalks running across it pretty regularly. It’s very dangerous.

Bob

Can more be done to make the city safer for visiting military personnel you ask? Yes. Let anyone in the miltary show ID for free passage on the Metro busses and subway.

gergegr

No subway comes within half a mile of where the accident occurred.

Surfin Bird

Tragic
Joe Doakes

You are safer in the Marines than you are in any American city after dark.
brooklyn4ever

How horrible. Here is this young man away from the throngs of death and war where loss of life is imminent, only to be taken out by someone while he is on r&r.
God Bless him and his family and God Bless him for hs service. Rest in Peace.
Semper fi!
TivTee

They really do drive like crazy in NY dont they??

http://www.real-privacy.int.tc

ewtwt4et

12th Avenue is one of the few areas in Manhattan where cars outnumber pedestrian traffic– it is specifically designed for faster speeds. Add to that the late hour (1:00 AM), the victim’s unfamiliarity with the area, and the possibility that he may not have been the first Fleet Week visitor to “overcelebrate.” There have been numerous pedestrian accidents along that stretch, and it’s simply not a high pedestrian zone… do the math.

Bill

My God bless and protect his family. I am so grateful to him for his service to this great nation.

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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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