Runner Hit @ N. Decatur/Clairmont Identified by iPod
September 26, 2009 | 10:57 amFox5 has the story of hit-and-run victim Sarah Halperin, who was left unconscious near the intersection of North Decatur/Clairmont early Wednesday morning after being hit by a car turning left onto North Decatur from Clairmont.
Training for a marathon, 23 year-old Halperin didn’t have any ID on her at the time, so a nurse at Atlanta Medical Center had to use Halperin’s iPod serial number to get a name from Apple.
According to the Fox5 report, Halperin is still in critical condition.
h/t: InDecatur
It shocks me every time I hear of a story about a runner being hit–especially when it’s close to home. I hope she makes a full recovery.
To those not aware, RoadID makes a great ID for runners. They have several varieties like the velcro wristband or ankle band. It has a metal plate on that can engraved with lifesaving information. I’ve had one for a few years now.
It’s really upsetting that someone could hit this woman and either (a) not realize it or (b) not stop to help! Both alternatives are pretty frightening. I’m praying for a full recovery for this young woman. In the meantime, let’s slow down out there, folks.
There but for the grace of God…
My wife just returned from a run when I read this story.
Years ago I was struck on N. Decatur by a driver that stopped just long enough to watch me writhing in the intersection with part of my clavicle sticking out of my neck, and then, they took off down the road.
Believe me, that changes how you think about humanity for the rest of your life.
I hope and pray Sarah recovers from her injuries as much as possible but no one fully recovers from being a crime victim.
Years ago I was struck on N. Decatur by a driver that stopped just long enough to watch me writhing in the intersection with part of my clavicle sticking out of my neck, and then, they took off down the road.
Your clavicle sticking out of your neck?! Goodness graceland. If it won’t bring back too many unpleasant memories, might I ask how long you had to wait before anyone approached you to say that 911 has been called?
And kudos to the nurse who thought to get the iPod serial number and call Apple. I wonder if trauma doctors are briefed on the various ways to find out someone’s name if identifying papers or cards aren’t immediately found.
The answer, sitting pugs, is not pretty…
After the light changed about 15 cars drove around me lying in the intersection (In front of Everybody’s) That got my adrenaline pumping enough that I dragged myself and the bike out of the intersection and to the curb, I got my cellphone out of the pannier (it had broken pieces sliding around inside it but it worked) and called 911 myself.
At least 4 drivers saw me get hit, at least 10 saw me laying in the road, at least 50 drove past as I waited on the curb. Not one person stopped or called 911.
How horrible. And heart-breaking– I couldn’t even let a stray animal lie in the road injured, much less a human being. I’m sure you’re pretty much past it now, but I’m so very sorry that happened to you. No one deserves such a thing!
!!! That’s awful. Sometimes I think about what I would do if I came across a driver, motorcyclist, or bicyclist that appeared to be in distress. If I were able to pull over without obstructing traffic, I’d definitely call 911 and stay until law enforcement and paramedics arrived.
I think about this stuff every time I jog (on a sidewalk down N. Decatur Rd.). I usually run at 7am and it’s dark at that time now. Hope she recovers. Sad.
A co-worker of my husband’s recently saw a jogger get hit by a car. This incident got me thinking about how important it is to have some kind of ID with me when I go out and run. While there are many commercial ID products out in the market, an easy, no-money solution that I did was type up some “in case of emergency” info and tape it to the back of my iPod, which I always have with me when I go.
I sincerely hope Sarah is okay. Everyone be careful out there!
They’ve actually corrected the story. – the driver did stop and call 911.
She’s in the ICU, but she’s stable.
Geez…that’s one big, fat oops. Glad to hear the person stopped. Have a bit more faith in humanity than earlier today.
So this is the second reference to “humanity” in this thread. I’m thinking that you might be taking a dim view of “humanity” because a human being might commit the crime of causing an accident and leaving the scene where there’s a severely injured person.
I don’t understand heaping this alleged crime on “humanity.” I guess I’m suspicious that this is a form of feigned naivete. We all know, and we do not forget, that large numbers of human beings have committed far worse crimes in recent memory. We also know and do not forget that human beings in similar numbers have created salvation and redemption in recent memory.
Thanks, Newby, for drawing this to our attention. I’m glad to know that the driver stopped.
Sarah is one of my friends. She runs with Team in Training. This is a good reminder for runners to wear ID and for motorists to be alert to pedestrians. She is still in critical condition, but her vital signs are good. Thank you all for your support.
Laura, thanks for the info on your friend. Please convey to her, if you can, that she’s in the thoughts & prayers of plenty of folks who don’t know her personally, but wish her a full and speedy recovery all the same.
It is always terrible for a driver to hit a pedestrian. As we become more urban, more people are walking and biking. Drivers must become more conditioned to recognizing objects besides cars, trucks and buses. I know there have been times when I’m driving and I haven’t been as attentive as I should be to pedestrians. Recently, I found myself on Tenth Street across from Piedmont Park, and I realized as I went through a crosswalk there were pedestrians waiting at the curb. I’ve driven through downtown Decatur enough times to recognize that I’m entering an area where there are lots pedestrain crossings, and I look for the crosswalks and any pedestrains entering the crosswalks.
Havings said that drivers need to be more attentive… runners should not be on North Decatur Road. (The big exception is being in the crosswalk. I am assuming the runner was not in the crosswalk at the intersection. if she was in the crosswalk, she was taking the necessary precautions.) North decatur is way too busy a street for someone to run on the asphalt. I don’t jog anymore, but when I did, I never could understand running where the cars were. Even in my neighborhood, I stayed on the sidewalks. I have heard runners justify running on the street by complaining about the condition of the sidewalks. Regardless of their condition, sidewalks are the place for pedestrians, and runners are pedestrians.
I’m very sorry this woman was struck and I wish her a complete recovery. My hope is that similar tragedies can be avoided and that runners will choose the safe decision of running on the sidewalks. There are simply too many ways for drivers to be distracted to assume they will see a runner. I am not excusing the driver, but some runners are being much too cavalier with their own safety when they run where cars have a dominating presence.
Concrete is a horrible surface on which to run and just destroys people’s backs, knees and hips. When they start making sidewalks asphalt (or even better, grassy little knolls), I will run on them. Until then, I’ll take the risk and force cars to share the road with me.
Humans are not much of a force against a one and a half ton vehicle.
The majority of sidewalks in and around Decatur (where there are any) are narrow, dark, uneven, broken down and twisted. Roots reach across to trip. Branches hang low to bludgeon. Unshielded guy wires reach to garrote. Bizarre curb cuts roll the ankle. Utilities, trash, fences, rocks, walls, trees and shrubs have been allowed to run rampant over people’s ability to move freely on a safe walkway.
My wife was seriously injured while jogging on a dangerous and inadequate Decatur sidewalk. They have since made some efforts to grind down some of the worst heaved sections, but that’s a mere bandaid on this issue.
I can totally understand why runners and joggers avoid sidewalks around here.
Seems as though she was crossing the street at the time, not really running in the street. As a long time runner I’m sure she knew to run against traffic, not with. I have to believe she was struck in the crosswalk.
Besides uneven sidewalks as a reason to run in the road, asphalt is much softer on the knees and joints in general. Concrete is about the worst surface to run on.
I always feel safe running…against traffic….in neighborhoods, but once I’m on a Ponce, or Clairemont, or North Decatur etc I hit the sidewalks…but try to get back into a residential hood asap.
I really hope she’s okay!
Your “running against traffic” was one of the first things I thought about. From the video, it looks as though she was hit just north of the crosswalk. Perhaps she was trying to cross near the McDonalds? I also can’t help but think that running on a busy road with an iPod can’t be good…she probably did not see nor hear the car coming.
In any event, my thoughts and prayers are with this woman and her family.
Ack! Pedestrian and car mix ups always make me pause and cringe. I run, scooter and walk a fair amount. Something that I believe has kept me safer while walking, scooting or running (maybe not) is that I assume that all cars are trying to kill me, especially in Atlanta metro.
I hope Sarah fully recovers and can still do the 26.2.
Any updates?
I jog in Decatur regularly and I’m continually appalled by how unaware drivers are of pedestrians. I’ve also noticed that almost half of the drivers that pass me are more focused on their cellphones than on the road. I’ve even come close to being run over by a fire chief and an EMS vehicle – neither had lights or siren on – nobody seems to be exempt…
If you run or walk in the Decatur area, I strongly recommend a reflective vest. You can get a Amphipod Xinglet at BIG PEACH Running right across from Chick-Fil-A.
If you are a driver – stay aware, keep your eyes open, and be safe.
If you are a driver – get a bluetooth headset and put the phone down.
I think studies have shown that it’s not just the physical process of having a cellphone in one’s hand that distracts the driver, it’s also the mental activity of talking to someone which interferes with driving. So even a call using a bluetooth wireless audio/speaker device can distract a driver substantially. We really shouldn’t be talking on the phone at all while driving but pulling off the road when we need to talk.
The U.S. DOT is holding a “summit” on distracted driving this week. Partially as a reaction to the previous DOT administration witholding conclusive research results that prove how dangerous using a cellphone (handsfree or not) actually is. I recall there were two independent studies that rated the impairment of talking with someone who is not in the vehicle as equal to downing four cocktails before driving.
They didn’t say what the impairment of jogging (or biking) on a busy road with earbuds in your ears was. Probably about the same.