|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Edited by: TJVNews.com
In a harrowing incident on May 21, Rabbi Michael Miller, a prominent Jewish leader in New York City, was struck by a hit-and-run e-bike driver, resulting in a broken leg. The New York Post reported on Wednesday that the incident occurred as Rabbi Miller was returning home from a Jewish heritage event downtown to his Upper East Side residence.
Rabbi Miller, who served as the head of the Jewish Community Relations Council for 35 years and is a retired NYPD chaplain, had just exited the No. 6 train station at 77th Street and Lexington Avenue when he was blindsided by an out-of-control e-bike driver, according to the information provided in The New York Post report. The driver, traveling the wrong way down a one-way street, hit Miller as he attempted to cross Third Avenue at 77th Street.
“I fell on the asphalt and broke my right leg. I suffered a contusion on my left leg,” Miller recounted to The Post. Despite the severe impact, he expressed relief that he did not hit his head during the fall. Writhing in pain on the ground, Miller was further shocked by the driver’s reaction. “The e-bike driver looked at me for 2 or 3 seconds — and then drove off,” he told The Post, describing the heartless nature of the hit-and-run.
“I’m lucky to be alive,” Miller told The Post from his rehabilitation facility, where he is undergoing physical therapy and learning to walk again with the aid of a massive boot and a walker.
Fortunately, a good Samaritan from the neighborhood witnessed the incident and promptly called 911. Emergency medical services arrived quickly and transported Miller to the hospital. Indicated in The Post report was that the NYPD reported that no arrest had been made, and the investigation was ongoing. At the scene, a detective from the 19th Precinct interviewed Miller, leveraging his long-standing connections with the NYPD due to his role as a chaplain.
Rabbi Miller was taken to NY Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Hospital, where he underwent nearly 24 hours in the emergency room. The report in The Post said that during his stay, doctors inserted a titanium rod into his broken leg to aid in the healing process. Despite the serious injury, Miller expressed a sense of gratitude, recognizing that the outcome could have been much worse.
Members of the Jewish Community Relations Council and other community leaders have called for swift justice and increased safety measures for pedestrians.
The incident also highlights the growing concerns over e-bike safety in New York City. The rise in e-bike usage has been accompanied by a significant increase in accidents, often involving pedestrians. The lack of regulation and enforcement regarding e-bike operations on city streets has led to numerous dangerous encounters, prompting calls for stricter controls and better infrastructure to protect both riders and pedestrians.
The day after his surgery, Miller received a phone call from Mayor Eric Adams, a long-time acquaintance. The Post reported that during their conversation, they discussed the urgent need for tougher regulations and enforcement against reckless e-scooter drivers. Mayor Adams expressed his support for Miller and reiterated the city’s commitment to addressing the issue.
Miller has become a vocal advocate for stricter laws to regulate e-bikes and mopeds. He demands tougher licensing requirements and harsher penalties for reckless drivers who endanger pedestrians. “Something needs to be done about electric bikes. People are afraid to walk the streets,” Miller told The Post, emphasizing the disregard many e-bike riders have for traffic laws.
Coinciding with Miller’s advocacy, Mayor Eric Adams and the NYPD announced a summer crackdown to seize illegal motorized scooters, mopeds, bikes, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and other unregistered vehicles from city streets, according to the information provided in The Post report. This initiative aims to improve pedestrian safety and reduce the number of accidents caused by unlicensed and reckless drivers.
The crackdown is part of a broader effort to address the surge in e-bike usage and the associated risks. The city plans to implement more stringent measures to ensure that e-bike and moped riders adhere to traffic laws and operate their vehicles safely.
Miller’s determination to walk again and his active participation in physical therapy reflect his resilience and dedication. His story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of community leaders in driving change and advocating for public safety.
