Bystanders prevent hit-and-run driver’s escape in Bethlehem crash

Of course, car accidents are never convenient. However, being the victim of a hit-and-run motor vehicle accident is more frustrating, because it can become difficult to hold the responsible party accountable for their negligence. Luckily for one individual in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a teenager and bus driver witnessed a hit-and-run car accident and prevented the hit-and-run from trying to flee the scene.

On a recent afternoon, a 50-year-old man was enjoying a bicycle ride on Fahy Bridge when a car weaving through traffic suddenly struck him from behind. Video footage from cameras near the scene was able to capture the car moving in and out of traffic before it struck the bicyclist. The driver the sped off, leaving the cyclist to fend for himself.

Fortunately, a teenager and a bus driver both saw what was going on and took the situation into their own hands. The bus driver used his vehicle to block both lanes of traffic, which prevented the driver from further crossing the bridge. The teenager, just 17 years old, then used his car to park behind the fleeing driver, leaving him no options for escape.

The victim was initially reported to suffer bruising from the impact, the precise nature of which was not further detailed in a news report, though the man’s bike was destroyed. The alleged hit-and-run driver, also a teenager, was charged with two s traffic violations. He was cited under a new Pennsylvania law that took effect the day of the collision. It requires that motorists maintain a distance of at least four feet when passing a bicyclist.

It is not always clear in the immediate aftermath of a car accident exactly what happened and what the long-term effects of an injury will be. Often, someone initially thought to have suffered minor injuries eventually discovers that the impact caused more harm than first believed. Even if symptoms from accident-related injuries do not present immediately, those involved in an accident may still have the wherewithal to seek compensation for their pain and medical expenses related to the incident. Anytime someone is involved in an accident, it is wise to explore their legal rights or responsibilities.

Source: WAVE 3 News, “Bus driver, teen block in hit-and-run driver,” April 16, 2012