MTA Bus Driver Arrested for Fatal Hit-and-Run

Photo via @NYScanner/Twitter

An MTA bus driver who fatally hit 70-year-old Bed-Stuy resident Carol Bell near her home early Tuesday morning was arrested later in the day for fleeing the crash site, according to the NYPD.

Paul Roper, a 48-year-old MTA employee, has since been charged with “leaving the scene of an accident,” “failure to yield to pedestrian” and ”failure to exercise due care.”

When cops arrived at Sackman Street and Fulton Street around 6:15 a.m., they say they found Bell ”unconscious and unresponsive with trauma laying on the pavement.”

Bell was declared dead at the scene.

According to the NYPD:

“Upon a preliminary investigation it was determined that the female pedestrian was walking northbound on Sackman Street crossing at Fulton Street when she was struck by an MTA bus which was traveling southbound on Sackman Street and turning right to go eastbound on Fulton Street. The bus did not remain at the scene.”

Surveillance video released by NBC New York shows the bus making a short turn onto Fulton, so that it hits Bell when she has already crossed out of the bus’ rightful lane.

The NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad is continuing to investigate Bell’s death and Roper’s actions in the aftermath.