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AN IRISHMAN has been killed in a hit-and-run accident in New York City.
Kevin Bell, from Newry, was fatally injured in the accident in The Bronx early yesterday morning.
IrishCentral said he had been out socialising with friends, and had been due to play a Gaelic football match with them.
The 26-year-old had moved to the city last August.
The New York Post quoted a woman who had pulled over to assist Bell after he was hit by a driver who sped away.
“I’m just so disgusted right now. I don’t understand people. I’m the only one who stopped the car to run to him. People were just driving by,” she said.
That paper also said that the removal of Bell’s remains had been the source of some controversy, as medical examiners had put his body in the back of a van which was stuffed with bags of garbage.
Photos published by the paper showed officials having to make room in the back of the van, moving aside “grimy bags of recyclable bottles” so that there was enough room to put the Co Down man’s remains inside.
It said medical emergency officials were looking into the circumstances surrounding the removal of his remains from the scene, on East 233rd St near Oneida Avenue.
The site of the accident is close to a local store selling imported Irish products to the city’s growing expatriate community.
The Irish News said Bell was from a well-known family and had been a champion Irish dancer who regularly featured in Scór competitions.
It added that family friends and others in Newry were now being organised to help cover the cost of repatriating his remains.
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I lived in Woodlawn for 6 years, and the apartment building shown in the pic for over a year. That road is lethal! It’s essentially a duel carriageway, cars speed and it’s very dark at night (street lights are few and useless!) Crossing it, at night or in the daytime, is not easy.
I’ve spoken to people in the area today. They are not only very upset at the young lad’s tragic death, but his treatment at the hands of the City has disgusted them (and me). People are appalled at this.
My heart just breaks for his family and friends.
RIP. Living here in the states myself and couldn’t imagine my family back home having to go through what this poor guys family must be. The people driving by should be ashamed of themselves, seconds count, for all anyone knows he could have been saved if attended to sooner.
@JRNL… “The site of the accident is close to a local store selling imported Irish products to the city’s growing expatriate community.” — A little off topic for the vibe of this piece.
I suspect the author was merely trying to show the strong Irish connection this neighbourhood in the Bronx actually has. There is a very large Irish expatriate concentration.
RIP, I hope they get the driver.
I live in NY too and the drivers over here are on a different level of crazy compared to back in Ireland.they don’t seem to understand what mirrors and indicators are for.everything’s a race.had to let a roar at a lad driving the wrong way down a one way street the other day.He just kept going oblivious.could have easily killed someone.RIP Kevin
A great man who was full of laughs and jokes, a genuine messer! Had the pleasure of knowing Kevin and hope and pray that someone is brought to justice for this! RIP pal
Awful tragedy. Hope the person will be caught and brought to justice. R.I.P
Poor kid. God rest his soul.
The New York Newspapers are blaming drink for this poor soul’s death.
The paper states that the deceased had been out with friends. He suddenly decided that he had to go and took a taxi home. He never made home. Close circuit TV shows the lad walking to the middle of tbe street, lying down and cupping his head in bis hands… A short time later a van runs over him and doesn’t stop.
Another senseless loss.
You appear to be suggesting this was a suicide with limited evidence. Which NY papers are you gleaning these details from? I know that stretch of road and I’m not aware of any cctv cameras which would show what you’ve described. Plus it’s very dark there, I’m not even sure cctv would show the incident in such poor light.
Tricia… No not at all. I’m saying that he got pretty drunk and did something stupid. Lads try odd things when drunk.
Furthermore, they can enhance the video to clearly see what happened.
All lads do stupid things when drunk. If a lad is lucky… Whay he does won’t cause himself or someone else harm. If the lucky survives a stupid self-dare or prank…. He should be bright enough to bever get that drunk again.
I know…. I got stupidly drunk once on ny 18th birthday. … And decided never to do it again.
You appear to have very specific details. Again I ask,which NY paper did you get them from?
Hi Tricia. I got from the NY Daily News online edition.
Rip
From reading the NY Daily News article (see link below) not sure if you could really blame the driver that hit him if he was lying down on the road in the middle of the night. Unfortunate incident where drink definitely was a big factor.
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bronx/man-fatally-hit-bronx-article-1.1374109
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