Less than 24 hours after Mayor Bill de Blasio hosted a press conference on the Upper West Side touting his plans to end traffic injuries and fatalities in New York City, a Wall Street Journal reporter was hit by a school bus a matter of blocks from the site where the event was held. Michael Howard Saul, who covers City Hall for the Journal says he was in the crosswalk with the walk signal when the bus driver, who was making a left turn on to Amsterdam Avenue, barreled into him.
See also: Reducing Taxi Fares When Drivers Speed, and 62 Other Proposals in the Vision Zero Report
Here, we’ll just let Saul tell you about it in his own words.
Wow. Less than 24 hours after a news conference on traffic safety, I get hit by a school bus on the Upper West Side. Amazing.
— Michael Howard Saul (@MichaelHwrdSaul) February 19, 2014
Here is the school bus that hit me. Just literally plowed right into me. Intersection of Amsterdam and 95th. pic.twitter.com/bNF9RwSf3Y
— Michael Howard Saul (@MichaelHwrdSaul) February 19, 2014
Here is the squad car taking the report. Officer said he saw it. Accident happens 2 blocks from mayor’s presser on traffic safety.
— Michael Howard Saul (@MichaelHwrdSaul) February 19, 2014
I was crossing the intersection. The street lamp said walk. And this dude is making a left from 95th onto Amsterdam. And just hits me.
— Michael Howard Saul (@MichaelHwrdSaul) February 19, 2014
FURIOUS! Vision Zero? I am fine. Just shaken up. Gonna be late for Stringer presser.
— Michael Howard Saul (@MichaelHwrdSaul) February 19, 2014
I have to hand it to the NYPD. Out of nowhere they were here. Officer said he saw it. This is a school bus driver.
— Michael Howard Saul (@MichaelHwrdSaul) February 19, 2014
This intersection is one block from my home. This isn’t a lighting problem or road design issue. Freaken driver just hit me.
— Michael Howard Saul (@MichaelHwrdSaul) February 19, 2014
Ok. I am done venting. Will try to go to Stringer event. But cops have my license.
— Michael Howard Saul (@MichaelHwrdSaul) February 19, 2014
De Blasio chose to host his Vision Zero press conference at P.S. 75 on the Upper West Side because of the school’s proximity to several recent high-profile pedestrian deaths in the area. Nine year old Cooper Stock was struck at West End Ave and 97th; Alex Shear and Samantha Lee at Broadway near 96th.