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Subscribe to RSSA heroic Staten Island woman pushed her 8-year-old grandson out of the way before being struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver as the two walked home from church Thursday night.
Clara Almazo, 57, and her grandson, Brian Herrera-Ramirez, were crossing Cary Avenue in West Brighton just before 10 p.m. when a black Ford Escape came barreling toward them, police say.
Read the original story at NBCNewYork.com
Witnesses said Almazo was thrown 10 to 20 feet by the impact. She was later pronounced dead at Richmond University Hospital. Her grandson suffered scratches and bruises.
They were returning home from Thursday services at Our Lady of Mount Carmel-St. Benedicta Church.
The alleged driver, Brian McGurk, turned himself in several hours after the accident and was charged Friday with leaving the scene of an accident. It wasn't clear if he had a lawyer.
It wasn't known how fast McGurk was driving. He remains in jail and his vehicle is under police surveillance.
Police say additional charges could be issued against the 40-year-old suspect.
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Leave a Comment:
Moral to this story, always look out for number 1. Don't try and save other people, this is what can happen. That's why I always look out, for number 1 and that's it.
God Bless you Grandma! THAT is the bravest act a human being can do!
Well, I must say I commend the driver, 40-year-old Brian McGurk, for coming forward and turning himself in. Who knows whether someone else convinced him to come forward or his own conscience made him do it, but it was a noble gesture after making such a horrible mistake.
Oh PLEASE! Just because he finally turned himself in does not make him noble, that is just pathetic. The guy ran down a woman and did not even stop to see if she was hurt, did not call police or paramedics, did not check on the child. This was no mistake..he made a conscious decision to leave those people bleeding in the street. It's unknown whether he had been driving under the influence, but running away shows him to be a coward, nothing more. What he did is unconscionable, not commendable.
My guess is DUI....hope he burns in hell.
God bless her for her actions.
A Hit-and-Run driver is immediately in the police custody, except George Zimmerman.
Condolences and prayers go to the victim's family and friends.
Religion kills!
Hit and Run as well as Drunk Driving are both offenses that should be punished by permanent revocation of both driving privileges and voting rights.
Actually, DUI should be a capital offense, with no way to prevent the execution, so much that it is proven beyond a doubt that the driver was drunk.
By executing first time drunk drivers every time, the number of incidents will be reduced by:
1.) Putting the fear of the guillotine into the drunk's mind.
2.) Attrition.
No true. And you might think differently if someone walked in front of your car at 10:00 pm. If they were not in a crosswalk, the article is missing the true point of the story - don't cross in the dark in an unmarked area and rely on someone else (the driver) to protect your life. Be cautious, don't take unnecessary risk protect your own life and be extra careful if a child is with you - you never know if any driver is drunk or distracted, texting or whatever.
Well said. It might not be applicable in this case, but people seem to have forgotten that in elementary school you're taught to stop and look both ways before crossing the street putting the burden of safety on the pedestrian. As some people get older, they place it back on the driver and move oblivious to the traffic around them. We all need to take responsibility for the safety of ourselves, and not act in a reckless fashion that intentionally endangers others who are taking that same responsibility.
He was probably drinking, and wanted to turn himself in after he had sobered up so it wouldn't go on his record.
That's maternal instinct. Nothing is stronger. not even the instinct to save one's own life.
It is wonderful and sad that she died,but to save her grandson is great.I see those names tho....
So very sad! What is really sad to me is that most accidents like this shouldn't have happened. It is usually caused by drinking, drugs, or speeding, or all of the above. I can't figure out what is wrong with people. A car is a weapon when not driven under proper circumstances.
True, This story is VERY HEARTBREAKING! My the GrandMother R.I.P and my Condolences to the family. But my problem with this is. What in the world is an 8yr. old doing out at 10pm. I don't care if he was at church or not. This child should have been HOME in bed, under the watchful eye of his PARENTS. I find it VERY HARD to believe that on HOLY Thursday that was the only time Mass was given. NO WAY that child should have been out that late!!
His vehicle is under police surveillance? That sentence makes it sound like he was driving Christine.
...dont they let the alcohol or drugs wear-off, before they turn them-selves in?