Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
[UPDATES] Woman Killed By Flatbed Truck In Greenwich Village
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Aug 27, 2012
Modified Aug 27, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Aug 27, 2012
Modified Aug 27, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A woman was struck and killed by a flatbed truck in the West Village shortly before 9:00 a.m. this morning. An FDNY spokesman confirmed that the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Robin Rothstein, who was walking to the subway from her Charlton Street home, says a police officer told her that the woman "was hit at Houston Street and then dragged up the street. You can actually see the area that has a track of blood on the street—you can see it on the cobblestones on the crosswalk."
An NYPD spokesman declined to comment. We'll update when we have more.
[UPDATE] Lindsay Carson, who was headed to work from a yoga class in the area, said in an email that she noticed a backlog of traffic on 6th Avenue. "I realized people were all staring at this big flatbed truck that had stopped...and thats when I noticed the girl between the two back tires, folded up like a dummy." Carson says, "It was such an awful sight—no one knew what to do so we all just stood their waiting for the ambulances. Shocked."
[SECOND UPDATE] An NYPD spokeswoman says that the woman was on a scooter, "crossing east to west on Houston Street" when the tractor trailer traveling northbound struck her with its rear wheel at 6th Avenue. The spokeswoman confirmed that the victim, who is believed to be in her late 50s, was dragged for two blocks until the truck stopped near Carmine Street. There is no criminality suspected, but the investigation is ongoing.
[THIRD UPDATE] An NYPD release notes that the woman was piloting a "foot scooter," and was crossing east to west on 6th Avenue when she was struck by the truck making a right turn from Houston onto 6th Avenue. The release notes that the driver "was informed that he had struck the female" at Minetta Lane. While the investigation is ongoing, there is, as the police spokeswoman told us earlier, "no criminality suspected at this time."
The Post spoke with a witness:
“I heard her scream. She was on a scooter,” said Fernando Portorreal, 30, a construction worker who was on a nearby job site. “People were trying to get the truck to stop. Once she went under the tire it was too late. Her body was wrapped around the tire.”
(Alex Tabak / Gothamist)
Tagged
AIS
greenwich village
pedestrian fatalities
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 10:34 a.m. ET
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
Repeat offenders are a big talking point in the governor's race.
By
Gino Fanelli
News
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
Repeat offenders are a big talking point in the governor's race.
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD searching for 'person of interest' in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Ryan Kost
and
Elizabeth Kim
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .