Gawker
Yesterday afternoon, coming back from "lunch" at Shark Bar, I noticed a crowd clustered along Spring Street. A young man, probably in his early to mid-twenties, had apparently been hit by a car. His neck was bent at an odd angle, and someone was in the street with him holding a roll of paper towels, trying to mop up or contain the blood and viscera seeping from the back of his head. His eyes were rolling about in that way that eyes do when someone is dying.
There was nothing I could do, and standing on the street would have made it even harder for qualified emergency personnel to get through, so I came back to the office. I like to think of myself as a pretty callous guy, but I have to admit that I was rattled and I'm still kind of rattled right now. I've scanned the papers and searched the web, but I've yet to see any word about the incident. I don't know what the point of even mentioning this is, but, you know, I'm pretty sure I saw a man die yesterday.
So, anyway, I don't know if this is me being sentimental or a big pussy or whatever, but take care of yourselves, okay? Don't jaywalk. Thanks. I'll try to snap back into being a dick again first thing in the morning.
Comments
I'm sorry, but nothing has made me laugh so hard all day.
Yikes. How horrible. I witnessed a really terrible car accident a couple years ago and got to see some similarly awful carnage. I suggest booze. Drinking may not be the answer, but it helps you forget the question.
Is that why there's blood splattered on the Gawker logo right now?
Dude, that totally sucks. Last thing I'd ever want to have to carry around with me for a couple of days.
Is this a joke?
If it is it's not very funny.
so i guess it's not as cool to see a human struck by an automobile as dane cook claims it to be?
@newtojezebel: the same question and answer has been bantered around in regards to you my dear.
Today I saw an old woman on O2 fall at the medical center I work at. I was able to help, but it threw my entire day off. I'm an accountant, not a health care provider, so it's rattling to be involved in actually helping someone.
If I saw what you saw, I wouldn't have been able to help.
Point (finally): Unless you're being cruel, you're doing the best you can do.
@the cajun boy: I'm pretty sure its Choire. Or maybe the entire editorial staff. Its one of those "too good to be true" things.
@the cajun boy: Clairvoyance is one of those mixed blessings.
Fucking Thursdays.
@the cajun boy: And that's no joke.
@htotheomo: If it is, it's actually kind of funny.
@BrianVan: I think that might be a tie-in to the "Dexter" ad. But it is creepy.
But, be careful out there. We don't want this to happen to anyone... well, except Spencer Pratt.
@ae38: This one really pushed me over to team Hoax. A Popsugar reference? Totally out of character.
Sympathies.
Awful.
@Conbon: Conbon, you need to join the get-together over at the Elijah Pollack post. All of the old-timey avatars are having a conference call later. My avatar is going on a date with Rock Hunter later...
Ech. Sorry for the poor victim, sorry you too Balk.
The father of a work friend was killed by a hit and run a couple of years ago. Since then I've been much more careful about crossing against the light. Because it made stories like this all too real.
Despite all the snarky comments, I'm glad you posted this. Makes me realize how much we'll miss you.
And do look both ways when you cross the street.
@Conbon: Also, not as generally moronic as the other statements. That's the problem I have with NTJ - inconsistent tone.
That's terrible, Balk. I'm rattled just reading it. I kind of want to hug you. Sorry if I've crossed the earnesty line, everyone.
The sympathy is appreciated, but honestly, I'm not the one that deserves it. I mean, yeah, I saw something awful, but it wasn't me splayed out on the street in a button-down shirt and tie with my eyes rolling about while some stranger cradled my head in what I have to assume were the kid's final moments. I'm sorry that there's anyone who reads this site that thinks for a second that this is some kind of a joke, but whatever: if you do, your opinion isn't really way the hell high up the list of those that matter to me.
Yikes. That's awful. Poor man, and poor you. (and pore lolrus).
I've walked into the aftermath of a fatal shooting--two dead, one horribly wounded--just after the shooter fled and before the police showed up. At first I thought someone was just ill, but then--oh.
.
I'll never forget Donald Trump's reported reaction to the news that two of his top executives had been killed in a helicopter crash:
"I could have been on that flight!"
The randomness of life is stunning isn't it? I came up against my first instance of unmitigated cruelty last week (cat put in three garbage bags to die) and while it's a cat, the energy that people spend to be cruel to a living thing was a revelation. Life is all so fragile and short and totally out of our control sometimes.
@Balk: When I said, "I'm sorry," I meant it. I did not think for one second that what you'd written was a joke, Balk. What made me laugh, aside from mental illness, was the knowledge of what was to come in the comments section. I regret writing about it.
@Balk: This rivals the day I saw the results of "Bike Messenger v. Bus". My heart goes out to you. Only in NYC can you see something that horrific play out right in front of you. You were right to walk away and not interfere. Deep breaths... you can get through it.
@MercuryPDX: "Only in NYC can you see something that horrific play out right in front of you."
Umm... Iraq?
@MercuryPDX: I don't want to imply that what he witnessed wasn't traumatic and awful but it happens in other cities also.
@MercuryPDX: yeah i'm pretty sure NYC hasn't cornered the market on horrific displays.
@MercuryPDX:@bitchyenglishmajor: Any street? Christ, even in Cincinnati, people hit people.
Alex, I am sorry this happened. Since I can't say that to the poor gentleman, I can at least say it to you.
People who think this is a joke suck.
Despite our snarkish tendencies, he still have hearts. And you've gotta have heart.
FUCK, I AM THE NEW NTJ.
It's strange that thinking about how arbitrary life really is emphasizes it's importance.
Do these pants make me look fat?
I am so stoned right now.
I remember the morning after seeing something random and violent. I even called the police and the hospital, but they wouldn't talk. I felt that because I had made the 911 call, I responsible for something and/or I was owed an answer. I think I drank too much that month. Now when I remember her, I think a prayer for both of us.
Understood, but in the nine years I've lived in Portland I've never seen that happen in front of me.
Not saying it DOESN'T happen here or anywhere else, just saying that in all the time I spent working and going to school in NYC (10 years) I've seen at least 5 incidents like this.
ah heck, few things make a person feel smaller and more humble than realizing your complete helplessness. I crawled into a flipped car once to turn off the leaking engine. I had to crawl over the driver to reach the ignition. I couldn't take her out bc she was hurt and hanging upside down. Her 1 yr old daughter had crawled out the window and we whisked her up to my grandmotherly neighbors arms. The person who did save the mom was a firefighter I had gone to school with and had spent 4 yrs being stuffed in lockers. It happens, it sucks to witness it and look both ways before crossing...
@the cajun boy: Dude, you rule. Balk, thanks for sharing. You take of yourself, too.
@Sayser: oops. Balk, take good care of yourself, too.
I love my ipod, but it blocks out external noise and makes me effectively deaf as a pedestrian. As a result I've had a couple very close calls. Not sure what was involved in accident you witnessed, but I'll add to the PSA and remind people to keep their senses about them - specially their hearing.
Sympathy for the Devil is a great tune, but it almost killed me at Columbus Circle a couple weeks ago.
Balk, you must feel so terrible! I'm sure the guy that got hit doesn't feel half as bad as you! *Hugs*
@NotAndersonCooper: seriously, i've come dangerously close to getting hit because i zone out on long walks with the music in my ears. i have mentioned to friends that i really think that i will die getting hit crossing the street because of it. scary.
I extend my sincere sympathies. In college, studying abroad, my friends and I discovered the body of a 21-year-old man who had drowned minutes before. We had seen him alive. My roommate was an EMT but couldn't help. It was horrifying. They took my beach towel to cover his body.
I've never wanted to buy you a drink more than I do after reading that, Balk.
You're a good egg.
So sorry to read about this. i've seen something similar and was very shaken, i remember it like it was yesterday. also, good luck with radar! i've been reading your stuff since tmftml (and gawker since elizabeth spiers, thank you very much + don't flatter yourself) and will continue to check in on you there.
@Balk: I thought it might have been a joke because sometimes the humour here is a little harsh so I wasn't sure. But I'm you anyway so right now I'm responding to myself which seems like a waste of time.
And I doubt anyone here thinks you're a d__k anyway. You're obviously using that persona for entertainment purposes.
@the cajun boy:
Or I could be shot by a cop, because he's yelling, "Halt, Halt Goddammit. You in the blue tee-shirt with the french obscenity. Halt or I'll shoot."...
I never heard a thing.
@newtojezebel: If you really are Balk, you'll post a comment as Balk claiming to be NTJ. Also, what is the birthmark on my penis shaped like?
@newtojezebel: Hi Sweet Pea/Lady Earnesty!
I am entirely hopeful that I am not you, but I get your ethos.
We know Balk is a DICK; in fact, Balk's Cock is more popular than he is.
He is, however, one of us.
@bitchyenglishmajor: Are you a guy? The other night. It was hazy.
in a strange twist of fate, michael scott just hit someone while driving to work in the opening of the season premiere of the office.
@Balk: This shit is shocking as hell to see. Saw a smushed pedestrian last summer on 44th / 6th before any EMTs got there, and needless to say I had no interest in lunch or work the rest of the day. Doesn't matter how callous you are, it'll churn anyone's stomach, especially if it's random and completely unexpected right outside the office door.
I saw a dog get run over by a car a few weeks ago. It was awful. Now, I realize it was just a dog and not a human, but shit. I certainly squeezed the crap out of my puppy and a bottle of vodka when I got home.
Sorry for the poor guy, but also sorry that you had to see that. Drink more, think about it less.
"Life changes in the instant."
The older I get the more often I think of the randomness of life and death. Some things you've seen or been through and people you hardly knew you never forget, ever. Everyone must die of something, but we don't get to chose where and when we are born -- or to whom and in which century -- and we don't usually get to pick the place and time we die. Absolutely none of this is fair or rational or designed to help us sleep better, but its all we've got.
@