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Subscribe to RSSSeven family members were killed as a minivan flipped over a guardrail on the Bronx River Parkway Sunday. Among the dead were three girls. NBC's Michelle Franzen reports.
Updated 7:16 p.m. ET: Seven people are dead after a minivan flew off the Bronx River Parkway around 12:30 p.m., fire officials told NBC 4 New York. The van fell about 100 feet to a wooded area in the Bronx Zoo tram yard, according to media reports.
The seven victims were in the van. Three were girls, ages 7, 10, 12. The adults who died were an 84-year-old man and three women, ages 80, 45 and 30. They were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
It is still unclear what caused the van to veer out of control but investigators believe it bounced off the median, crossing all southbound lanes before flipping over the guardrail. The area below was a non-public area of the 265-acre animal park. There were no animals or people on the ground.
New York Police Department highway accident investigators estimated the van was traveling approximately 70 miles per hour or more when it hit the median. The 45-year-old woman was driving the van, and all the passengers were wearing seat belts.
Units were dispatched to four locations; the police department used dogs, helicopters and thermal imaging to look for body heat.
Read the original story at NBCNewYork.com
Louis Lanzano / AP
Police surround a temporarily built tent where the bodies of the crash victims were brought on Sunday.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:
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This is horrific - sad for all, but especially those kids. They must have been terrified.
Terrible incident. May they all be in Heaven now. Prayers go out to the family and or friends.
Gary, you are one of them, huh? I wanted to see how long it would take for another ignorant religious bozo to have to bring in the name of the so-called creator. Is his name Jesus, Gipetto or possibly Pinocchio?
Absolutely Gary, the kids did not know what would happen. For a few seconds, it was a real CLIFF HANGER!
What a tragedy, This would not have happened if vans were banned. Ban Vans! Ban Parkway bridges!
@ Matt, you're pretty ignorant to attack someone on their views. If they choose to speak of God, and heaven and wish well for the people who, in case you have forgotten, lost their lives, then let it be. No need to make such uncalled remarks.
May God comfort the families involved in this horrible tragedy and give them strength. God have mercy on Matt's soul.
My condolences to the family
god is imaginary, but if it helps them to believe I say more power to them.
May God be with the families and friends of these victims. What a horrific tragedy.
What a truly tragic accident. My thoughts and well wishes to those that lost them. Those poor people must have been so terrified in their final moments, such a sad tragedy.
Let's not turn this into a religious argument. It's tragic no matter what your beliefs are, and it is shameful to try and make this into some other issue.
@Matt-2631617
Translation- "I'm a troll looking for any excuse to bash people I don't agree with and am such a flaming a-hole that a story about a trerrible tradegy would not prevent me from being a total dick"
Matt... The US Constitution allows Gary, me, and others to worship and practice our spiritual beliefs as we choose. Just like the Constitution allows loud-mouthed idiots such as yourself to speak your venomous words. So here's a suggestion. I will give up my "Freedom of Religion" as long as you give up your "Freedom of Speech." That's what I thought. And another thing... I am a critical care RN. You have absolutely NO idea how many atheists I've witnessed suddenly inquire about God when they are laying on their death beds. They often ask to speak to a chaplain and end up praying "just in case." When I was in hospice care, you have NO idea how many atheists I saw be baptized and accept God in their final days. And ALL of them did this under their own power and free will. So Matt... I wonder how YOU will act when your time comes.
They are with Zeus now. Athena bless them.
I call BS on you Willy.
If you're such a committed Christian, I'm sure all of the critically injured Christians you meet are happy to be on death's door and not afraid at all because it means they'll be in heaven with god so soon right? Wait, that's not what happens at all. You're just as terrified and afraid and unsure as everyone else.
I wonder how YOU will act when the time comes. Because if you doubt one bit. If you're afraid just one little bit, you're doubting god and jesus and you'll be damned to eternal torture and fire in hell for eternity.
You atheists are the one's doing the road work
To cheap to put in a decent guardrail"
I thought you we're perfect..
"If you're afraid just one little bit, you're doubting god and jesus..." Not quite sure what made you an expert, though I personally don't believe in a burning hell. This is not the place to discuss this. This was a horrible tradegy that probably touched a number of families. My condolences to all of them.
I'd rather see more comments like "Lusitania's"... at least it was on topic. Maybe a decent guard rail would of prevented at least some of the deaths.
Matt I';m not a believer but people like you are truly tedious. It's better to be silent for people like you. That said; I'm fairly familiar with the road and can easily see how it could have happened. Peace to the families involved is my hope.
@RealWorldProgressive
In order to call BS you'd have to be addressing something that was actually said not just assumed in your own mind. Nowhere did Willy say or even suggest that Christians were any less terrified or unsure as anyone else. Only that many atheists take a "just in case" precaution in their last moments.
BS, Christians have a whole host of mitigation's allowing them "eternal salvation". Some scriptures state you don't even need to believe at all, just to have someone up "there" already vouch for you, of course you won't find those in the Bible. If you're going to bash on something you should really learn a little bit about it first.
My goodness,what is it about this story that brought out so many sad and loney trolls? Those of you who are responding to Matt and his ilk are merely falling right into their hands. You getting all upset and trying to preach to them is exactly what they want. The best way to deal with the soulless individual is have their comments collapsed and then ignore then eventually when no one rsponds to them they'll, hopefully, crawl back under their bridges and leave the rest of us to have an intelligent conversation. Maybe.
Matt, you are one sick person. Doubt if you have many friends.
Matt: Your first comment re: lack of belief in a deity is one I'm inclined to agree with, but introducing it in this particular thread about a specific and very recent tragedy is at best poor form. In case your first post didn't mark you as a misanthropic troll, I'd say your second post about the "cliffhanger" did.
Lusitania: Huh?
I don't blame you Matt! I get a nauseous when I see references to deities, after a tragedy, as if that is some sort of comfort to anyone. Perhaps trading reality for fairy tales may be comfort food for the feeble minded. Those of us who know better prefer a more grounded reality.
Mind you, these same people who are angrily defending their Christian deity believe the same deity has a divine plan, and this accident was part of it, gruesome deaths and all.
Good one, Master Bob!
RealWorldProgressive... I have watched all types of people prepare for death and then actually die. The Kubler-Ross model of death teaches that there are 5 stages of dying. I can tell you from experience that 99% of the people who have a strong faith have a much smoother transition through these stages. Specifically, I have noticed that highly spiritual people spend much less time in the anger and depression stages. If you doubt me, I CHALLENGE you to spend time volunteering for your local hospice agency. They are always in need of people to help cook, feed clients, read to clients, etc. And here's another thought: Let's assume that you and Matt are correct. Let's assume that there is no God. Now let's imagine that you believed in God and followed the Bible's teachings. Using these assumptions, you will die and that's it. End of story. However, if your personal belief in God caused you to live a more peaceful, fulfilled life AND helped you die an easier death, would you agree that your belief in God was STILL WORTH IT?
What a horrible accident - may Rupert welcome them home! WHAT!?? My Rupert is just as real as your jesus!
Why is it every time I read these comments, there are some trolls that try and cause trouble? Literally, EVERY SINGLE TIME!
Why can't people just say "This was a terrible tragedy. My thoughts and condolences are with the family" and THAT'S IT. Every single time there's an unnecessary political, philosophical or religious discussion that has absolutely NOTHING to do with the original article.
Let me now say what I have come here to say: My sincere condolences to the family members. This really was a terrible tragedy.
Addendum to those comments: If you are a family member that looked at this article, please ignore several of the rude and insensitive people that posted here.
the accident was tragic but so is this entire conversation ....
Gary-2423250
How would you know. do you have any proof to back your comment up?
Yes, this is a tragic and sad accident, but it happens all around the world every day. Why do people think that the deaths of these few are more relevant and important than all the kids starving to death in Africa and other countries.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TSeu1F-_U-I/T3TDAi_Nc0I/AAAAAAAACAs/_CLcqorBFYY/s1600/starving-children-africa.jpg
http://bibleisland.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/starving-child-sudan.jpg
I'm sure all the prayers said for these people really helped. /sarc
@Matt:
You are a true piece of useless sh**!!! And you are in a very small minority!! The vast majority of Americans believe in God. If you don't, that's fine. But stop trying to force your non-belief on others.
I THOUGHT I WAS READING ABOUT A VAN ACCIDENT, BUT SOMEHOW, I STUMBLED ACROSS ANOTHER HATE-FILLED, profanity-laced, insult spewing column of our good 'ol American citizens indicating how polite they are to one another. You pretend to be nice, but deep down, you really aren't...so you come come on here to spew your venom and hide behind your fake name.
It's always the same ones WITHOUT A TRUE IDENTITY, who start it all up, then the rest simply follow it up! Either all these haters are missing the TM v Zimmerman forums were miles and miles of HATE is written or you people have nothing better to do on a Sunday than post your negative garbage.
This is sad to hear. My heart goes out to the family. However, there is another point i would like to bring up ... seat belts. Funny how it is, when someone dies the news media is always the first to say that the party who died was not wearing seat belts. You have cops brainwashing you by stating that seat belts save lives. Well in this accident, it didn't help the family one bit. Another fact is when I heard this in the news they failed to mentioned that they all were wearing seat belts, leading us to believe that they hadn't, only because we are so use to hear it from them. Funny how that is.
Yes I know a 100 ft drop is along ways. But by the way the van looks, how many of them would have turned around and instead of having the roof crushing in on them, would be the other way? Food for thought, if any would have fallen out, would they lived because of the vegetation would have broken their fall? I see a great many of you are exchanging words about religion and all, but here it is. When it is your time to depart, it does not matter where you are or what you are doing. when you are called, you're gone. Plain and simple. I just happen to be a non-believer about seat belts. Yes i have been into a few accidents in my life, and what I have seen is people who wear them are far more hurt than those who don't. One drowned in 8 inches of water because they couldn't get their belt undone. Of course you don't hear that in the news either. just the ones who don't wear them. All the seat belts laws are for is a money generation device for cops to keep their jobs because going out and catching real crooks are to hard for them. It is easier for them to pull you over for that than to go out and do their real job. A money make and that is all there is.
Again I am sorry about this family. However, what i wrote is just food for thought. Please remember that how many people would have to die before some one would do something. In our area five people had to die before traffic lights were put up to help control traffic. in a scene this is that same concept with one exception. We hear all who died not wearing seat belts than those who don't. We hear all those who lived who wore seat belts than those who died that did.
Go in Faith, and peace to you all
I don't think this was a tragedy. It was stupidity at its finest. Acording to NBC World News tonight, the liberal crap, they were speeding and hit the wall then made a move to flip the van. It should have been prevented.
Michael Bloomberg YOU should look at protesting and banning Vans because they KILLED 7 people, 4 adults and 3 children. If you would spend more time on being useful instead of getting on your high horse and wanting to ban guns all around the USA. Take care of your own backyard.
One could understand this sort of tragic accidents happening in France and Spain where people speed and drive with reckless rage. Driving is full commitment that demands the driver's full attention and people especially children must never talk to the driver or do anything that might distract his concentration. A family or group of people happily chatting away or arguing in a car would invariably result in disastrous outcome.
RealWorldProgressive- how "Christian" of you to wish hellfire and damnation on anyone who doesn't have the same religious beliefs as you. Have you ever considered that maybe, just maybe, God will send you to the same little corner of hell as he sends Willy just for wishing evil on a fellow human being? BTW, Jesus is a proper noun and should be capitalized. The fact that you didn't capitalize it offers some incite into how much you truly respect Jesus.
Especially if you are an atheist, these religious trolls always trying to force a prayer on you will need to learn manners.
This is so true, especially the section of the road they were on, know it so well. Drove through that area pretty much my entire driving life and every once in a while as one of my best friend lives in the Bronx. Roads are fairly narrow, winding, hilly, and full of pot holes. On top of that, fairly congested even on weekends. If this was a weekday, driver probably would have been forgiven for certain type of error as you can't really go that fast. But on weekend, thinking this is the NJ Turnpike doing 65+, there's really no margin for errors.
It is truly sad to hear such loss of lives in accidents as such this one. It will be a hard one for the surviving members of the family for sure.
I wonder if Matt was born a POS, or did he have to work at it? It is apparent that people like Matt lurk in the shadows waiting for stories about tragic accidents, knowing that there will be sincere people expressing their condolences and mentioning their faith. When those stories appear, people like Matt pounce on the opportunity to show what purtrid vile examples of human beings they are.
No one forces anyone to have faith. And yet, if someone mentions it, even in the case of sincere sorrow, people like Matt are at the ready.
Now, I have no problem with Matt posting anything he said. None. I am all for his absolute freedom for him to do so and for him to keep doing so. I believe in the freedom of speech and hate fascism.
I just want the equal freedom to say what a pile of dog s#it I think he is for doing it. Seems fair to me.
I have undying hate for you scum sucking pieces of garbage trying to turn this tragedy into a political rallying point.
Seriously, someone says 'Oh I hope they're in a better place' and you may not say a word, but someone says 'I hope they're in heaven', which is basically the same thing and you cry like children 'OH THEY'RE FORCING THEIR BELIEFS ON ME WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA' please get over yourselves and quit whining like little brats.
Sir Andrew & C n R THANK YOU!
My beliefs are my own. That aside, I deeply sympathize with the families of the victims. That wreck looked horrific.
Huh?
I wonder what kind of van they were driving in. It was probably made in America.
Thank God no animals were hurt.
Mr. Binkie, 7 animals were killed. We humans are a type of animal.
Small wonder why a neo-nut brainiac named..."flexmind"... (post#1.33)would snort a crumb off the ground for a chance to whine the word... "liberal"--about the media.
What a pathetic act...!
Yep, that will do it. The driver was probably talking on his or her cell phone. Minivan drivers can't drive worth a damn either. I see it all the time every day. Its like when you buy the van the dealer must force the buyer to take a course in how to drive like an idiot.
Condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives.
Why do kids deserve more sympathy? Don't you think the adults were terrified also?
Matt-2631617, don't do this. You have a terrible history. You are suspended for a week for violating rule # 1 of the Code of Honor.
Don't religion troll either.
NyNy-2742735, Backcountry164, papabran-3513727, Hopeful American, don't respond like this.
You are all suspended for a day.
Bravo Sally! Too bad they'll just create another identity and be back at being their usual hateful selves within the hour.
MSNBC doesn't give any facts other than this has happened? Seems that they just wanted to be first with the story. I hope this was truly an accident and not some crazy murder-suicide.
Humm, I can take a guess as to what happened. Someone was going too fast or someone cut someone off resulting in the van flipping over the Jersey barrier and the pathway on the side of the road. The van dropped down to the rail yard 30 feet below. We New York drivers suck. I can't stand driving here because we are all a holes.
I was going to say, I didn't think the Parkway was "100 to 150 feet" above the rail yard as stated in the story.
Depending on where it went off it could have been 50 feet, but not 100. It would have been just north of Morris Park Avenue.
alan_static: you are being too hard on yourself. Just the fact that you recognize that driving too fast and in an aggressive manner causes accidents signifies that you are not one of those a-hole drivers. By the way, I live west of I-5, and there are plenty of a-holes way out west, too. May the victims of this horrific accident rest in peace.
alan - I'm from Maryland where we have our share of a-hole drivers here, but I agree, NY takes the prize. The worst driving experience I've ever had was some 20-plus years ago driving from LI to Maryland during a Friday rush hour. Stuck in gridlock, I couldn't believe how a-holish people were about letting you over to get to an exit. Your're signaling, waving, and asking nicely to shift over and they cut you off and/or flip you off too - in additin to the usual cutoff and other assorted d+++moves. It was unbelieveable.
I grew up in MN, where not many years ago a study concluded MN has the rudest drivers anywhere, believe it or not. I remember a truip thru Texas in the 70's where to my amazement everytime you came up behind a vehicle on a 2-lane road they would pull to the shoulder to let you pass. I was very impressed by Texas drivers.
SRM - likewise in Nebraska. Everybody waves as they drive by and they don't hog the passing lanes. MD is infamous for left-lane bandits as we call them.
The speed limit on the Bronx River Parkway is 40. Not even 45. It's incredibly narrow and winding. Even the most experienced residents push it to maybe 60.
Tragic, and I hate placing blame, but 70 is REALLY fast for that road.
Totally agree with you, Whitest Sneakers. Even if the speed limit was 55, which it is not on the Bronx River, 70 is way too fast. It has been a while since I've been on that road (born in the Bronx, but live in suburbia), but what I remember of it, you are correct, the road is very narrow and very twisty. There are spots that going 40 is too fast.
As to NY drivers being the worst, Alan static, I do most of the driving when we go on vacation. We usually go to Baltimore or to southern California. The worst drivers I have seen are the ones in California. They drive the same whether it is nice out, or raining for the first time in several weeks. They cut in and out and don't care if they cut too close to you. Of course, there are terrible drivers everywhere, but this is my opinion, based on where I have driven (it is in no way scientific).
Whitest Sneakers, I was thinking the same. It's busy with lots of traffic, on- and off- ramps. I hate driving there and avoid it whenever possible. If you don't pay attention for even a split second this can easily happen. However, how she could have been doing 70 there is beyond me. It's usually too crowded. What a horrible way to go.
I hope that it was an accident too especially if some of the children did not belong to the adults in the vehicle...In any event it would be tragic.
The driver was a boyscout leader and everyone in the car was a boyscout from another family. No, that was not true or serious. I just needed to create another cliff hanger before I dropped it on you.
OK Matt. You win troll of the day for Sunday. Happy now? Good. Go Away.
Oh, I don't think Matt's trolling is effective at all. It does, however, prove him a wretch and fool, which I am sure he is quite proud of. His mother is doubtless regretting that when he was conceived, Plan B was not on the market yet.
@chris-1895265
I think it is safe to assume that Matt is never happy about anything.
God of power and mercy, you have made death itself the gateway to eternal life. Look with love on our dying brother/sister, and make him/her one with Your Son in His suffering and death, that, sealed with the blood of Christ, he/she may come before you free from sin. Amen.
How very sad. I hate to hear of anyone's life cut short but the life of child truly breaks my heart.
May the GOOD Lord have mercy on your soul, Matt. I WILL be praying for you.
Proverbs 28:13 People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.
Chris-1595265,
I agree with you. I am not a christian, but what he said was totally immature, ignorant and uncalled for. I bet if this were one of those thumbs up/down type of comment boards he would probably get a ton of thumbs down. You know it's not about the belief or disbelief if whether there's a God or not but about respect. These poor people could have family and friends reading this and are already going through a most horrible and painful time. And these FOOLS get on here with no maturity or sensitivity and make dumba$$ uncaring remarks. I hope that when they lose someone that they care about that people return the favor and say cruel thoughtless things to them.
Matt I would love to pound your IMMATURE bratty childish head in!!! Why don't you just crawl back into your cesspool hole in your mommy's basement and STFU while you "please" her.
Ohhhhh such violence Doobie, and horrible language!
this whole thing is tragic ... and that includes the conversation im guessing half of these comments are said to create a stir ...
I know where that happened. I inspected that roadway 2 years ago.
Accident?
12:30.
Take away the zero. 123 = 6
The driver and or some of the adults were aliens attempting to disguise themselves as humans.
You and Matt should put both your heads together. Between the two of you, there would be zero brains or hearts! Where is your compassion? Oh! You have none!
Sorry for this tragedy. Prayers to the families and friends of the victims.
Wow, how awful. 100 to 150 feet is enough distance and time to see your end coming. I can't imagine how terrifying that must have been.
It would be nice if this were 1) edited for grammatical errors; 2) verified for realistic distances; 3) on-site reporting included, perhaps even if it were delayed a few moments.
NY1 is saying it crashed into the Bronx Zoo not the rail yard.
http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/160279/four-adults--three-children-die-in-bronx-van-accident
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/29/several-killed-as-vehicle-plunges-into-bronx-zoo/
NYT says in a tram yard near the Bronx Zoo.
alan_static - As I travel around the country doing QA Consulting for the Various Energy Fields and Companies, I see s****y drivers everywhere, just not NYC. I live East of Pittsburgh, I sincerely believe quite a few of us have become just about the rudest and worst drivers anywhere. Lately, my best driving experiences have been around Cleveland.
But, we all as responsible people, need to slow down, take our time, give ourselves ample time, forget about schedules, smell the roses, quit talking on cell phones, texting, and think about the value of life, especially those of the young children riding in our vehicles. You know, the ones we are supposed to teach and be responsible for.
My heart and thoughts go out to all involved and their families. Things like this make me want to believe in a Heaven for the kid's sake.
Y'all take care now and have a great day.
I'm glad you got to your conclusion. At one point, it was a real cliff hanger.
Matt-2631617- hey matt, just taking a signal from your literary style, I find that I need to put more of your melodramatic style in my technical reports. Thanks for helping me on that little problem that is a monkey on my back.
Gorsh, Matt, I'm glad you can appreciate a sensible, rational, kind-hearted comment like the one by The-COG. It really shows that you're a mature, good-natured individual. Ride that rocket, I'm sure you'll go far. (eye roll)
As for the circumstances of this accident, I wouldn't be surprised if the driver had suffered from a heart attack or a seizure of some kind. Hopefully there are enough witnesses who will find the time to come forward and clarify what happened exactly. My condolences to their friends and family.
If you actually believe journalists are intelligent or take the time to use the grammar employed in their classes (yeah right!), you get your chance to vote for your man Obama again, real soon!
No more prayer is needed for the victims, they are no longer with us and I hope they all were saved. Prayer is needed for the families of those killed. And prayer is needed for Matt for the ugly post which are no doubt the result of having ugliness inflicted upon him in his childhood and beyond.
I'm sorry Matt for all your pain and suffering may God heal the pain that you live with. Amen.
Matt the more of your posts I read the more I believe abortion may be justified sometimes, what a sick person you are, please seek some help!
Matt, only a complete moron from the right wing would politicize this tragedy. Go stick your head back up Michele Bachmann's butt and stay there.
As to the real issue, my condolences to the families of the victims.
"only a complete moron from the right wing would politicize this tragedy"
Troy, withy all due respect you only got the first half right. I doubt he is a true conservative based on earlier comments. Just a troll trying to such you in (and the rest of us as well).
Never was one that like hearing of accidents like this. I remember a good family that I knew so well. They just got back from a over-seas assignment in the Air Force. Picking up their new Van in New Jersey and driving home. One of them huge signs came loose and fell directly in the middle of the Van. Killing the whole family.
Vans cannot fly. They should have bought airline tickets.
Your sense of humor sucks. We could extrapolate that for you, but why bother. Your trolling also sucks. You go now.
@Mymomdidnotraiseafool, Read my lips KCUF YOU. Your mom raised a gnikcuf gnikcuskcoc idiot.
ludivinedeflot
Funny that people like you say this kind of crap all of the time, but you would never say anything like that to anyone's face. Just another yssup behind a keyboard. Read mine?
Where are the moderators when you need them? I think a permaban would be in order here.
Hey dickhead Chris, tell me where you live and I will gladly come say it to your gnikcuf face, you prick
ludivinedeflot, you are suspended for a week for violating rule # 1 of the Code of Honor.
Can the authority reasses the route of the turn? Can the authority post the SIGN of "Slow Down" and set "the Limit of traveling speed" several hundred feet before the access of that TURN?
Hope that they will find the way to prevent the future problem.
Condolences and prayers go to the victims' family and friends.
while that makes sense. Isn't it just common sense not to go speeding around a corner. Even if the posted speed limit was 70 I would not go 70 around a corner.
A poster in the second group mentioned that the speed limit on that road is 40mph. If the driver was going 70, then they were dangers to every other driver on the road at that time. I am sorry that 7 people had to die, but it was irresponsible of the driver to be going that fast on that narrow, twisting road.
What a horrific way to die. Those poor people, both young and old. I pray that their suffering wasn't long, and that they are in heaven. I will keep their families in my prayers tonight, and also those who will knock me for my beliefs because it makes them feel like such a 'big' person. =) God Bless the little ones, why even Matt!
My prayers are with the families of these people. God bless them all and in their faith give them comfort.
Deepest condolences to the family and friends. This is a very sad day for us all.
Bet a cell phone was involved in the crash.
Also, driving 70mph in a 45mph zone will do it. The female driver was speeding. I wonder if she even had a valid license. That area, like mine, has a lot of crazy hispanic drivers. Everyday I see the craziness. Too many people without licenses or suspended licenses. It's a wonder more people aren't killed.
Driving 70 in that area would still be considered slow.
1. It's New York a place with a ton of crazy drivers so it has nothing to do with someone being Hispanic.
2. I never drive that fast on the Bronx River Parkway. It's has a lot of twists and turns and narrow areas. I know some do but I don't. I think most people drive 60-65.
Judging by the latest synopsis I bet they got cutoff and the driver overcorrected, sending it across the lanes of traffic. Hasving driven a mini-van for years for work and family needs (and I don't drive slow by any means) it was like driving with a target on your back. Any d***head that wants to make an aggressive move will do it to the "mom-mobile" every time. My so drives it now and I've had to drill it in to him to drive with your head on a swivel because the idiots will be jumping and cutting you at lights and yields everywhere.
I am sure they were praying as the van began to flip over...Didn't seem to do them any good and No they are not in heaven. They are dead.
Oh well, this is a very sad story. I really wish drivers would be more careful and considerate of other people while driving. What a waste of life over a situation I am sure could have been avoided. A sad end to what was probably a beautiful life here and now on earth.
And how are you so sure? Yeah, didn't think so! Your commentary is worthless.
You know if you don't believe...great. But to say something like that. Disgusting.
I am glad I don't rely on you for any comfort in my life, because it doesn't sound like you know what it is. Not by a long shot.
lilly - I bet you're a real joy to be around. I'm also glad that you were able to enlighten us on the fact that there is no afterlife. I hope you never have to console someone in real life.
Some people are so angry with God they deny His very existence. That is one theological definition of being dead already. To deny the Giver of life is to deny their own life and existence. Witness so many self-avowed atheists and their hyper vitriol against any mention of God.
May the good Lord comfort the surviving family members of those who died here. I am quite certain He has already provided for the souls of those who departed.
How sad for the families of these people. Especially the children. May God be with them and the families.
Interesting how this became a discussion on religion, and those who say they dont believe in God have to try so hard to convince, not only the rest of us, but themselves of his nonexistence. Honestly, I feel sorry for anyone who doesn't believe. How lonely they must feel.
I'm an agnostic/atheist and I HATE all these rude pricks going around bashing people for their beliefs. I grew up in a Christian home and realized it didn't work for me, but I respect people and their beliefs until they start insulting me (and I've gotten quite a bit of crap for being an atheist). Honestly I wish we'd all get along, we may not believe the same thing but is that isn't a good reason to go around ridiculing people.
Now, back on topic.
This is very sad to hear. My deepest condolences to the family and friends of these poor people. Best wishes.
Thank you TheCollaredCrow. You sound like a good person to know. Everyone has their own beliefs, or non-beliefs, but you said you respect all (until they "dis" you). Again, thanks for a little common sense here.
As I stated earlier, condolences to the familes and friends of the people involved.
My first thought was of someone using a cell phone. But who knows. I'm in my mid-50s, and have been driving some 40 years. 2 years ago I had the SAME bizarre thing occur twice in one week....that I'd never experienced before. Driving on 2 different Calif. freeways....the driver's side window rolled down only a couple of inches. Suddenly a bee flew/or got sucked directly in thru the opening & impacted on my cheek, just below my left eye. Fortunately, it was sunny out, and I was wearing shades. I was startled but it didn't cause me to swerve or anything......which at highway speed in moderate traffic, could have been bad. And no one would have ever known what caused the accident, had one taken place. You can try & always remain alert & on guard for expected hazards....but I often wonder how many are nailed by the completely unexpected.
1. This is a terrible tragedy, for sure.
2. The investigation is not complete, and doubtless will not be for quite some time.
3. The people that comment about the cause any more than that are speculating based on no evidence, and thus stupid.
4. That's all.
Until the investigation is complete, it is irresponsible for the police to speculate. The driver may have had a mechanical problem, may have been cut off, may have been distracted, may have had a passenger with a sudden problem, may have had a medical problem, may have been intoxicated, may have had a bee fly into the car, any number of things. The police will not say untill they are reasonably sure. Why put the family into more distress by impying things just to indulge our morbid curiosity?
They were probably some church people. This kind of thing always happens to church vans for some reason.
Who knows what really happened. A full investigation is needed. A blown tire could have caused this or the driver loosing control because of some issue causing that person to stop functioning normally.
The worst case scenario is another person in a passing vehicle felt for some reason threatened by the driver and decided to STAND YOUR GROUND and pelted a "defensive" gunshot into the van. This is LEGAL in America now, as a result of ALEC/NRA and the Republicans taking over America. Come November when Romney is POTUS and the REDS own both Houses of Congress and the Supreme Court, women, children(especially girls) and senior citizens are to be subjected to the laws of Taliban.
This terrible incident, either mystical or metaphoric, is a forewarning of whats to come.
Bless you....I did not sneeze.
Gridlock, Seriously, I hope you were just trying to be amusing. Otherwise you have some serios mental problems.
WHO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED? Gunshots? Really? I'm sure this had NOTHING to do with Romney, or the Taliban.
My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims of this tragedy.
HUH???
Yes I am a repulican and all you say is true.look out in november because we are coming for you . hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!
A. Nobody asked you anything.
B. You cannot spell. Please explain what a "repulican" is. Is that how drunks pronounce "republican"?
C. Why you find reason to laugh is not clear. Perhaps because you are barking mad? Thought so.
HUH?
Matt and Paul you two are @!$%#s.
Your a @!$%#.
gridlock-2307416 it says they were doing apx 70mph. That speed is not legal in the Bronx... So that is the problem. Driver was 100% reckless and at fault.
@ Lusitania: Guiderails, if they are the standard strongpost W beams, are designed to handle an impact of a full size vehicle at a speed of 55 MPH of an angle of roughly 30 degrees, according to what I read in the AASHTO highway safety manual. They could probably handle an even higher impact. The thing is, at a speed of 70 mph, going across the highway, the impact angle would be much higher than 30 degrees. So with a larger impact angle, and a higher speed, there is much more energy going into the rail. Also, if the car got launched, it would hit lower on the car, causing it to flip. The tragedy here is that erroneous driver judgement cost the lives of 7 people.
Also, how do you know what belief system is held by the people who installed the guiderails?
It is definatly NOT legal to shoot any moving vehicle!! I own a gun, use it for non living targets at the range and for protection. You must be a Lib! You guys always blow things out of porportion! And I am a conservative, but not a Republican. Getting back to the story, it sounds like they were going way too fast for this type of road. I have never been to NY or Nj but from what it sounds like for those who drive it, they probably were going too fast and lost control, how sad! I feel awful for the poor kids, wow, a whole family! :(
They try to convince us that there isn't a "liberal media", which I don't buy in the first place. But then you come on here and come up with a conspiracy theory about a gunshot because somehow Republicans caused this to happen. And yet, your comment is still up.
But simple comments that aren't offensive in the least that say something like "God be with them" get collapsed. What a bunch of crap.