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From The New York Shitty Inbox: Witnesses/Help Wanted
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Stuff The Makes Heather Sad, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Yours truly has received all manner and variety of correspondence over the years. Some are humorous. Some downright belligerent. But the following will unfortunately be the most memorable. A fellow hailing from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Larry, writes (in an email entitled “August 2nd blog and photo of pedestrian struck on humboldt and metropolitan“):
Dear Miss Heather,
Hopefully you can help??
My wife, Heather along with myself and our 2 children were very close with the individual that was struck by the livery car that fateful night.(August 1st, 2012) The victim of this horrible hit and run, was a young man from our hometown of East Grand Rapids, Michigan.
His name was Leighton Parnham. He was only 19 years old and as a result of this (my opinion) vehicular homicide, passed away at Bellvue Hospital on August 7th 2012. If you would like to learn about this fun loving young man, visit this link:
http://obits.mlive.com/obituaries/grandrapids/obituary.aspx?pid=159143187
or
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/08/east_grand_rapids_high_grad_ki.html
The family is destroyed.
I am also a retired police officer and evidence technician from the suburbs of Chicago.
It seems the police have no interest in this homicide, which according to NY VTL section 10, leaving the scene of a traffic accident, resulting in death, is a class D felony.
We are tying to obtain the truth into what happened and any help you can provide would be great. i.e. person T, who originally posted this and what seems is a photo from their window overlooking the scene, any witnesses from Legion Bar that night…
I understand the driver of the livery car left the scene and was stopped by police with a smashed windshield and front end damage, but, was not arrested or even ticketed…
I have spent a significant amount of time today corresponding with Larry and Heather. They, in turn, have been corresponding with Leighton’s father (who, you can imagine, is devastated). The latter has given me permission to get the word out about this— one of many “accidents” hereabouts involving livery cabs, I’ll add— in the hope someone who witnessed this “hit and run” will step forward and speak up. To Heather (Larry’s wife) via email at: H_shortt (at) yahoo (dot) com.
Losing a child is quite frankly beyond my comprehension. I cannot imagine the pain Leighton’s family and friends have experienced and are presently experiencing. Nonetheless, we are in a position to help them get some semblance of “closure”. Finding out what actually what happened is a vital first step. Please help spread the word, north Brooklynites. Thanks.
Photo Credit: Screencap of Leighton Parnham comes via MLive.
Four Accidents In As Many Weeks?
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
If what I have heard (via the North Brooklyn Community Facebook Group) this appears to be the case. Apparently a young man (purported to be of 16 years of age) riding a bicycle was struck by a livery cab at the intersection of Graham Avenue and Bayard Street (as indicated by the number “4” on the above map) around 11:00 p.m. The Fire Department and EMTs were on the scene immediately and he wqas taken to the hospital. As of 11:30 p.m. the police had yet to arrive.
This is all I know presently. However, I have inquired of the Head of the 94th Precinct as to exactly what happened— if this youth is okay (given the circumstances— and this is my primary concern). When I hear something, I’ll add it here. In closing this makes four accidents in a very small area in as many weeks. Three involved livery cabs. Three involved Graham Avenue. (You can read about the other three accidents as annotated on the above map by clicking here, here and here.) WTF??? Seriously.
From The New York Shitty Inbox: Pedestrian Struck?
Filed under: 11211, East Williamsburg, East Williamsburg Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
A person we’ll call “T” writes today, August 2nd, 2012:
Hi Heather. Do you know where to find a police blotter for S. Williamsburg? Last night, at around midnight, a livery cab hit a pedestrian. Right in front of Legion, Metropolitan & Humboldt. I live across the street and heard the impact. He didn’t move at all (and I thought he was dead) but when the ambulance showed up 5 mins later and he was loaded on the gurney, he woke up and started screaming. I’d like to know if he’s OK and what happened. It sounds like the cab blew the light and nailed him in the crosswalk (I overheard the Legion witnesses giving statements to the police.)
Per “T” the victim was only 3-4 feet from the curb (using the crosswalk) and was thrown into oncoming traffic— on his face, no less— upon impact. This sounds really bad folks. I suspect I speak on the behalf of everyone reading this when I write that my heartfelt support goes to his family and loved ones and I hope he makes a full recovery.
I have contacted our wonderful 50th District Democratic Leader, Lincoln Restler, and am pleased to announce he is looking into what happened. If/when I hear something, I’ll share it here. In closing, I’d like to note this makes the third accident hereabouts in as many weeks. It is the second involving a livery cab. At what point are the powers-that-be going to acknowledge that we have a problem?
UPDATE, 10:21 p.m.: I have been told by an unidentified (but reliable) source that the individual struck was riding a skateboard the wrong way down Humboldt Street and, as a result, was struck by a livery cab. He was (obviously) injured, but survived. That’s good news if you ask me. Whether or not the livery cab was, in fact, running a red light (as alleged) has yet to be determined.
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