Man hit by car; No one stops to help

[DaemonSeid]

A surveillance camera captures disturbing footage of a hit and run in Hartford, Connecticut, that left a man paralyzed. But what it shows after
the accident is what really has the police chief outraged.

"The guy landed on the ground, blood everywhere, his head was cracked."

Angel Torres was crossing the street on Friday (May 30) when a car swerved over the center line, hit him and kept going. Torres landed in the middle of the road. Ten cars passed by Torres. Two others turned around and went the opposite way. Witnesses who stopped to gawk never called 911.

A police officer, on his way to another call, saw Torres in the street and called dispatch for an ambulance.

"It's a clear indication of what we have become," said Hartford Police Chief Daryl Roberts. "We see a man laying in the
street who has been hit by a car and people are just driving by, and people around him walk by him. People always say 'what are the police doing'. That is
not a police problem."

Police are now asking witnesses who kept driving to contact detectives and do the right thing.

"At the end of the day, we have to look at ourselves and understand that our moral values have changed and we have no regard for ourselves," said Chief Roberts.

http://www.wkrg.com/news/article/man...to_help/14587/

It's a testament to the quality of life when somethign like this is caught on film...definently grounds for Social Psychology study on Helping behavior.

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

A surveillance camera captures disturbing footage of a hit and run in Hartford, Connecticut, that left a man paralyzed. But what it shows after
the accident is what really has the police chief outraged.

"The guy landed on the ground, blood everywhere, his head was cracked."

Angel Torres was crossing the street on Friday (May 30) when a car swerved over the center line, hit him and kept going. Torres landed in the middle of the road. Ten cars passed by Torres. Two others turned around and went the opposite way. Witnesses who stopped to gawk never called 911.

A police officer, on his way to another call, saw Torres in the street and called dispatch for an ambulance.

"It's a clear indication of what we have become," said Hartford Police Chief Daryl Roberts. "We see a man laying in the
street who has been hit by a car and people are just driving by, and people around him walk by him. People always say 'what are the police doing'. That is
not a police problem."

Police are now asking witnesses who kept driving to contact detectives and do the right thing.

"At the end of the day, we have to look at ourselves and understand that our moral values have changed and we have no regard for ourselves," said Chief Roberts.

http://www.wkrg.com/news/article/man...to_help/14587/

It's a testament to the quality of life when somethign like this is caught on film...definently grounds for Social Psychology study on Helping behavior.

I saw an update on this story. There were at least three 911 calls placed after accident. But the very fact, as pointed out, that no one even came to his side is at the least so sad.

[DSTCHAOS]

I wouldn't have stopped but I would've called the police.

[KSigkid]

I live right around Hartford, and work/go to school there. It's a huge story around here, for a variety of reasons. The victim's son is shown on the front page of the main newspaper (The Hartford Courant) pleading for witnesses to come forward. The street where it happened, Park Street, is a fairly busy area of the city, which makes it even more astounding that no one came to his aid.

Also, to say that the city's administration and police department have been under scrutiny lately doesn't begin to describe things. A lot of people are watching closely to see how this case is handled (or mishandled, whatever the case may be).

[TorrentRain]

callous onlookers ... never want to be in that city if you need help, and not surprised since most people in Connecticut are wealthy and don't care about anyone else.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

I wouldn't have stopped but I would've called the police.

So, you would not have stopped and why? You may have been able to help keep him alive.

That seems to be the problem with people today, the hell with our fellow man kind!

Would I have stopped, a big hell yes, I care and am not totaly lethargic about things.

I hope they get the person that hit and killed this person and prosecute them to the fullest. That is vehicular homocide and that is a felony!

[preciousjeni]

Don't jaywalk, people. I would definitely have stopped and called the police. I might have even gone to check on him and reassure him that help was on the way. But, there's only so much one can do who is not trained to handle medical emergencies. If you touch him and hurt him more, you can be sued (good samaritan laws be damned). If you're in the middle of the street, you could get hit yourself.

But, I could have sworn that one of the people who ran into the road put a phone to his/her ear. Maybe I was just seeing things.

[SydneyK]

Originally Posted by TorrentRain

most people in Connecticut are wealthy and don't care about anyone else.

Right. 'Cause we all know that only poor people care about others.

[1908Revelations]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

Don't jaywalk, people. I would definitely have stopped and called the police. I might have even gone to check on him and reassure him that help was on the way. But, there's only so much one can do who is not trained to handle medical emergencies. If you touch him and hurt him more, you can be sued (good samaritan laws be damned). If you're in the middle of the street, you could get hit yourself.

But, I could have sworn that one of the people who ran into the road put a phone to his/her ear. Maybe I was just seeing things.

Yeah I agree, but jaywalking should not get people ran the eff over and left to die.

I KNOW I would have called the police and I probably would have gone to his side. Of course I would not move him as I am not trained, but I would have done more than make a u-turn. That is really sad.

[Dionysus]

Good example of bystander apathy. It's really disturbing to know that the more people are present in a crisis the less likely they will help.

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

Good example of bystander apathy. It's really disturbing to know that the more people are present in a crisis the less likely they will help.

^^^^While reading the new postings, I was starting to think about this as well.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

Good example of bystander apathy. It's really disturbing to know that the more people are present in a crisis the less likely they will help.

If you are the only person reacting to an emergency, point directly to a specific bystander and give them a specific task such as, "You. Call the police." These steps place all responsibility on a specific person instead of allowing it to diffuse.

I have personally found this to be the best course of action in an emergency. When you call out "somebody call 911" people look around like "ok so who's calling?" Crazy humans. When you point to someone, it jolts them out of their shock and brings them back to responsibility. A person can help. "People" cannot. So true.

[catiebug]

As someone who lives in Connecticut, I have to ask - And you know this how???

Originally Posted by TorrentRain

...most people in Connecticut are wealthy and don't care about anyone else.

[laylo]

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...stander+effect

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by catiebug

As someone who lives in Connecticut, I have to ask - And you know this how???

Seriously - have to love broad generalizations.