MTA Bus Driver Fatally Hits Pedestrian Near Union Square
The city crash record lists one pedestrian death at Broadway and East 13th Street on June 7, 2023, and police said an MTA express bus driver moved forward after a light turned green and hit 70-year-old Roberta Lehrman.
What We Know
On June 7, 2023, just after 1 p.m., an MTA express bus driver heading south on Broadway was involved in a fatal crash at East 13th Street near Union Square. Police told the Daily News the driver had been stopped at a red light and proceeded after the light turned green, when Roberta Lehrman, 70, was struck. A witness said Lehrman had been crossing mid-block, and officials said she died at the scene. The city crash record lists one pedestrian death and a southbound bus going straight ahead. Police said the driver remained at the scene, and the Daily News reported the next day that no criminal charges had been filed.
A southbound driver proceeded after the light changed
Police told the Daily News that the MTA express bus driver had been stopped at a red light on Broadway at about 1 p.m. After the light turned green, the driver moved forward and Roberta Lehrman was struck at Broadway and East 13th Street.
A witness told the Daily News that Lehrman had been crossing mid-block and was dragged. Officials said she died at the scene. The city crash record lists a 70-year-old pedestrian killed and a southbound bus going straight ahead.
Broadway at East 13th Street is part of a high-crash corridor
The crash was recorded at Broadway and East 13th Street in Manhattan, near Union Square.
CrashCountNYC location context identifies Broadway in Manhattan as a corridor with 4,156 crashes, 2,263 injuries, 188 serious injuries and 7 deaths since 2022.
Roberta Lehrman was remembered as a teacher and traveler
The Daily News identified the pedestrian as Roberta Lehrman, 70, of Brooklyn. Friends and neighbors described her as a retired high school teacher who loved travel and gardening.
Records noted pedestrian-related factors
The official person record listed pedestrian error or confusion and disregarding a traffic control as contributing factors for the pedestrian. Press accounts attributed the sequence to police and witnesses, including the report that Lehrman was crossing mid-block before she was struck.
The driver stayed at the scene
Police said the MTA driver remained at the scene. The Daily News reported the next day that no criminal charges had been filed.