Bus Driver Arrested For Crash Death
This past Tuesday, I wrote about Carol Bell, the elderly woman who was struck & killed by a NYC Transit bus in the early morning hours that was headed back to the East New York Depot. I opined that I was very curious about the investigation as I found it hard to believe the driver could have zero clue he hit an actual person.
Not long after, not only was the driver identified but arrested. Here is more on the 48 year old Paul Roper being arrested via a NY1 News report:
An MTA bus driver was arraigned Wednesday for his alleged involvement in a deadly hit and run in Brooklyn.
The 48-year-old Paul Roper is being held on $25,000 bond after police say he struck 70-year-old Carol Bell.
Surveillance video from NBC shows the moments right before Bell was hit crossing at Sackman and Fulton streets in Cypress Hills Tuesday morning.
After hitting Bell, police say Roper did not stop, and kept driving towards a bus depot in East New York.
Bell’s daughter says she wants answers as to how Roper didn’t see her mother crossing the street.
“I’ve seen the google, I’ve seen the news,” said Alisa Bell. “You are not going to tell me that you didn’t see my mom, white Caucasian, bright green sweater with a walker. But you hit her and you keep on going? Where she was dismangled. ”
Roper’s wife says he was unaware he hit anyone until after he was questioned at the depot.
That’s where blood was found on the wheels of the bus.
“He didn’t mean to do it,” said Sonia Roper. “He didn’t mean to do it. Because he’s not that type of guy. I know for a fact he didn’t see that lady because he would have stopped it. And if he knew that was a person I know he wouldn’t have pulled off. If he saw the lady in front of him he would have stopped the bus.”
Roper faces charges that include leaving the scene of an accident and failing to yield to a pedestrian with the right of way.
He’s been a bus driver for 15 years.
The MTA has suspended Roper without pay.
It is so hard to picture how this all went down. On one hand, loved ones can’t understand how she could not be seen based on what she was wearing. Yet on the other side, we have the claim that Paul would never do such a thing. So which side is closer to the reality? We might not never know.
Regardless of which side is, the sad reality is this tragedy will never be forgotten.
xoxo Transit Blogger
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment