Hit and Run: Without a Compass
Hit and Run: Without a Compass
If a picture is worth a thousand words, how many are needed to describe the video of a man being struck by a hit-and-run driver and left to bleed unaided in the road, while numerous motorists and pedestrians casually maneuver around him and continue on their way?
Two, according to the blaring newspaper headline in Hartford, Connecticut, where the horrific incident took place: “SO INHUMANE”
At 5:45 on a recent Friday evening in plenty of remaining daylight, 78-year-old Angel Torres was crossing a street in a working-class Hartford neighborhood when he was struck by one of two cars driving recklessly across the center line.
The impact—caught on a streetlight surveillance camera—flipped Torres into the air, then sent him crashing to the pavement. As Torres lay in the road bloodied and paralyzed, the surveillance tape shows approximately nine motorists slowing to have a look at him, then driving away.
Other people are seen on the tape staring from the sidewalk or venturing into the street. Though it was later reported that several witnesses called 911, none of the gawkers halted traffic or aided the severely hurt Torres. Approximately a minute and a half after the impact, a police car arrived. Torres was taken to a hospital in critical condition, paralyzed from the neck down.
“We no longer have a moral compass,” said Hartford’s shocked and angry police chief, after releasing the surveillance tape in hopes of identifying the hit-and-run driver. But the tape—capturing the inaction of so many bystanders—also caught the attention of outraged Americans, who swamped blogs, message boards, radio shows and more, wrestling with the same inconceivable question: Why didn’t anyone give more help to Angel Torres?
Tell us what you think: Is there any acceptable reason not to have helped Angel Torres, or anyone else in a similar situation? Do you think the people seen on the tape have been misunderstood? What would you have done?
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People are not the same
I am a High School Student in Whitehall Ohio. I just dont understand how people can hit someone and keep going. Not only that other people who drove by just stop to look and kept going. To i think that’s sad because that could have been you’re grandfather who got hit. You would want someone to help you’re loved one if they were in this perdictament. It’s a shame how people are not whiling to help each other when someone’s down.
Keith Cobb Jr. | 4 months, 4 weeks ago
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beeen hit and left to die myself
This article brought tears to my eyes. In July 09 I was hit by an unknown driver. For some odd reason at 930pm on a wednesday night in a rather lively area of vallejo california not one person heard a sound or seen a thing as I was struck and landed over 100 yards away from my frontyard- where it has been assumed that I was standing when I was hit. I wasn’t expected to live through the night and if I did I would have brain damage and probably not ever walk again. I believe that when I did land it must of been right into the sweet Lords hands….My head and leg specialists are still in awe at how much my body has healed based on how much trauma was inflicted. So far I think clearly, see correctly, remember events and things in my life before the accident, I did survive it and I can WALK. My accident has changed who I am and my life forever. I have no memory at all of my accident. some day maybe I will. No one has ever been cought or admitted to hitting me on accident… nothing. no one. no leads. no suspects. How does this happen? Today is Thanksgiving and I am thankful more and more everyday that God spared my life and has let me stay here and raise my two young children. Thank God for at least one neighbor of mine who wasn’t afraid to hold my head together until the ambulance came. Out of a whole residential block—- she was the only one. Thank God. AMEN
Tamie Davis | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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beeen hit and left to die myself
This article brought tears to my eyes. In July 09 I was hit by an unknown driver. For some odd reason at 930pm on a wednesday night in a rather lively area of vallejo california not one person heard a sound or seen a thing as I was struck and landed over 100 yards away from my frontyard- where it has been assumed that I was standing when I was hit. I wasn’t expected to live through the night and if I did I would have brain damage and probably not ever walk again. I believe that when I did land it must of been right into the sweet Lords hands….My head and leg specialists are still in awe at how much my body has healed based on how much trauma was inflicted. So far I think clearly, see correctly, remember events and things in my life before the accident, I did survive it and I can WALK. My accident has changed who I am and my life forever. I have no memory at all of my accident. some day maybe I will. No one has ever been cought or admitted to hitting me on accident… nothing. no one. no leads. no suspects. How does this happen? Today is Thanksgiving and I am thankful more and more everyday that God spared my life and has let me stay here and raise my two young children. Thank God for at least one neighbor of mine who wasn’t afraid to hold my head together until the ambulance came. Out of a whole residential block—- she was the only one. Thank God. AMEN
Tamie Davis | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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hit and run
i can’t believe that people can be so unbelievably mean! what is this world coming to. if i seen him i would definetly stop and try to help, this is another human being my god what is wrong with people! wow!!!
maureen | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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Judaismmorallaw
What does Judaism moral law require of they believers
Shamiqua Julia Coriolant | 3 months, 1 week ago
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USA's law
It is sad that things like this happen.
However, our law system can make our life very unpleasent when you try to help anyone in need, or even in a survival situation. You can even be involved in a law confrontation, which means money. This is based in the concept of no having the proper certification , and facing greeded relatives which will blame on your helping actions.
This is a fact. You can take it to the bank.
It happened to me
alberto | 3 months, 1 week ago
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What if it were your dad, brother, or son lying th
What if it were your dad, brother, or son lying there? How could you not stop and help?
InsideTheCourt.com | 3 months ago
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wussified America
The problem with this country is that we have absolutely no sense of unity. No one cares about anyone else because nine times out of ten (especially in a big city) no one has anything in common with anyone else. “Torres” sounds Hispanic. I’m not Hispanic. Do I help? Like the United States government helped terrorists get pilot’s licenseses before 9/11? Maybe I do, maybe I don’t. Who can really be trusted anymore? How does one know that any given reaction to what they do will be positive? The moral of the story is this: this country is so screwed up anymore that virtually no one in it has any idea of the right thing to do. Most rules and laws are prohibitive and they promote inaction. Society and its “political correctness” have really screwed this country up. Majority does not rule anymore. That is why people doubt what they feel is right. That is why people drive around someone who is severely injured and dying in the street. We are too concerned about the perceived consequences of our actions, too afraid of what other people will think. Our society breeds our indecision. The supposedly “freest” country in the world doesn’t allow for free thinking. Call me cynical, but I think our country’s situation is beyond repair. Sorry, Angel Torres, but if you had gotten hit in your country of origin, rather than in the U.S., you might have had better luck.
Joseph D Chernosk | 2 months, 3 weeks ago
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Humans being Humans
Right off the bat those nine cars that drove by or persons who walked by knew that what they were doing (passing the injured person by) was not the thing to do. I’m certain beneath the hardness of their actions, something, a twitch, a grip in the pit of their stomach, a thought passing through their ears, an emotion that griped their throat, something happened at that moment to them that caused an indifference, an inhuman act performed by a human being. Someone who let the bad overwhelm the good. It’s happened to us all. I’m not a person trying to find the good in this situation but I’m just letting you know that it can happened to you. I know because it has happened to me and I know I’m not a bad person. I’ve passed some needy people on the street and let the bad overcome the good but it never let me go. I knew it was wrong and it didn’t let me go until I was able to help the next person I saw on the street. I felt much relieved and blessed that I was able to help someone aside from feeling good about myself. I was able to relieve the pain of another. To give someone five minutes of relief, take away five minutes of pain, fill the stomach of someone, dry an eye. There’s no better way to show your humanness and in the bargain just feel gooooooood. Prozac on the go. And, that’s what those people need to know, How wonderful they can make themselves feel and how much better the world they live in.
Ed | 1 month ago
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