Live Car Accident Video From Local TV News

[Ben E Lou]

Boortz was just talking about this...

http://www.wwltv.com/cgi-bin/bi/vide...carax_0916.wmv

[Ben E Lou]

An oddity, and something disturbing:

1. the video is not from WWL tv, who is hosting it.
2. The guy and the cameraman stand there, rather than checking on the passengers.

[GrantDawg]

Bad link.

[Ben E Lou]

Boortz just announced the link on the radio. I'd imagine it is getting slammed right now.

[John Galt]

Link doesn't work for me either.

[Ben E Lou]

Yeah...it isn't working for me either. In fact the entire wwltv.com site looks to be down. Probably not a good idea for Boortz to announce a web link during the lunch hour.

[digamma]

It worked for me. Very odd.

[vex]

DIdn't work for me.

[sachmo71]

Mine liked to a site with semi-nude girls and their boyfriends.

Are you the REAL Skydog, or is this a WigNifty situation?

[Masked]

Originally Posted by sachmo71

Mine liked to a site with semi-nude girls and their boyfriends.

What do you expect from a New Orleans news station? Avoid the Mardi Gras section next time.

[Neuqua]

Wow, the guy seems like he wants to get the story done first and foremost and doesn't even look like he wants to check up on the people in the car.

[sabotai]

Get Michael Powell on the phone! I heard the s-word!!!

In all seriousness, though, those guys as asshats for just standing there and not checking on the car.

[Arles]

"It looks like the lady is bleeding from her eyes, but let me give you some background on this intersection before I help her.."

[cthomer5000]

unreal.

[Ben E Lou]

So, is this working for everyone now?

[duckman]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

So, is this working for everyone now?

Yeah, it did for me. Total bullshit.

[Blackadar]

This accident reminds me of what I was taught in grade school.

Look both ways before crossing the street!

[cuervo72]

Robber: Alright fatso, out of the car.

Kramer: I want to capture this.

Robber: Come on! Gimme your wallet.

Victim: Don't shoot.

Jerry: Well, there goes the money for the lipo.

Elaine: See, the great thing about robbing a fat guy is it's an easy getaway. You know? They can't really chase ya!

George: He's actually doing him a favor. It's less money for him to buy food.

Robber: I want your wallet. Come on. Come on, come on.

Jerry: That's a shame. Alright, I'm gonna call NBC.

[bigdawg2003]

The reporter and cameraman will be arrested under the Good Samaratan law. It will be the worst news show ever.

[BigJohn&TheLions]

With the state of news and the way they talk down to the public, I'm surprised that they don't roll this repeatedly "Let's take one more look..." and then roll some b-roll of other traffic accidents.

Still, it won't play for me.

Reminds me of a GM OnStar commercial where a woman calls in an accident where her husband (who was driving next to her in a different car) went off the road and into a lake. She was crying and telling the OnStar person that the car went under the water. So she basically sat there on the phone watching her husband's car go under and didn't think he might need immediate help. What's funny is there is another commercial where a guy calls in a car going off the road into the lake. People are idiots.

[Senator]

Put the microphone down and help, you f-ing idiot.

[Simms]

Whoa....That's a Wichita station. I know that intersection.

[Maple Leafs]

I feel bad for that reporter. He's in an impossible situation, live on the air when something like that happens. It's easy for us to sit back and decide what he should have done, but he's hung out to dry. It's clear from his voice that he's upset at what he's just seen, and while I'm sure he wishes he'd gone to help, I doubt there's much he could have done.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

I feel bad for that reporter. He's in an impossible situation, live on the air when something like that happens. It's easy for us to sit back and decide what he should have done, but he's hung out to dry. It's clear from his voice that he's upset at what he's just seen, and while I'm sure he wishes he'd gone to help, I doubt there's much he could have done.

I dunno. The telling comment is by the lady back in the studio. She says it politely, but her words/face/body language are clearly indicating, "CHECK ON THEM, YOU INHUMAN MORON!" That being said, I'll admit that after the events of this January, I've got a chip on my shoulder with regarding to reporters responding to human tragedy.

Something about the "**BREAKING NEWS** Car Accident 53rd & 119th" graphic showing up is pretty striking as well.

[BigJohn&TheLions]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

I feel bad for that reporter. He's in an impossible situation, live on the air when something like that happens. It's easy for us to sit back and decide what he should have done, but he's hung out to dry. It's clear from his voice that he's upset at what he's just seen, and while I'm sure he wishes he'd gone to help, I doubt there's much he could have done.

A friend of mine was on the air doing afternoons at WNBC-AM back in the 80's when he went to traffic and heard screams. The traffic chopper was crashing into the river. He's still shaken by it.

It is completely different when you are there though. I can't see the video, but if there are plenty of other people there handling it then you do your job as a reporter & cameraman and report. If there aren't enough people to help you put the mike and camera down and do your job as a human being...

[Simms]

Like ML, I can appreciate the tough position he's in...to a point. Not saying the whole thing is forgiveable, but I can't say that, put in the same situation, I would have been able to shrug everything else off and run to help, especially were I not particularly adept at any type of first aid (I'm not).

Originally Posted by SkyDog

Something about the "**BREAKING NEWS** Car Accident 53rd & 119th" graphic showing up is pretty striking as well.

^^ *THAT* was pretty slimy though.

[Ryan S]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

It's clear from his voice that he's upset at what he's just seen, and while I'm sure he wishes he'd gone to help, I doubt there's much he could have done.

I think his voice becomes more shakey because he realises just how close an escape he had.

[JeeberD]

How much you wanna bet the person in the car didn't see the truck because they were too busy looking at the cameraman instead of paying attention to the road?

[Blackadar]

They didn't see the truck because they didn't look left. They couldn't have - the turning vehicle blocked their view.

[GrantDawg]

I think you guys are being a little unfair. That guy just about got killed and was in shock. He spoke maybe 20 seconds after the accident, then he signed off. He made sure to repeat exactly where he was most likely to make sure the people in the station called 911. I don't doubt he then went to help the woman as quickly as he possibily could pull himself back together. News people can be an uncaring lot, but this isn't the best example.

[GrantDawg]

I went back and watched. By the timer it was less than a minute before he was off the air. You really think that is enough to persecute this guy?

[rkmsuf]

I say we get someone to rip his nuts off

[sabotai]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

I went back and watched. By the timer it was less than a minute before he was off the air. You really think that is enough to persecute this guy?

Yes. Especially since there was a part where he positioned himself back into the view of the camera. That pretty much told me he was more worried about face time than the situation of the person in the car. If he's in shock, he's not worrying about getting himself back on camera.

[Calis]

Originally Posted by Simms

Whoa....That's a Wichita station. I know that intersection.

Yep, this was from I believe Kake news in Wichita two days ago. I remember thems showing it on their, what timing for a story on how bad the intersection is.

There's been a bunch of real bad accidents there lately.

And yeah, I think it's a bit unfair to blast the guy, as he really did appear to just be in shock at the time, and was probably inwardly thanking God he didn't just get drilled. I imagine it'd take a minute to gather myself in the situation as well.

EDIT: I should add I can't get the video to play, so I'm just going off the memory of seeing it the first time, so I could be way off base.

[Tekneek]

The whole problem was the idiot proceeding into the intersection without making sure both directions were completely clear. Lazy bastard could have have killed several people.

[Julio Riddols]

WOW.. What timing for an informative news story.. I think he did his job well, reporting further on why this issue needs to be explored before going to help the people.. It's clear that he was looking out for the well being of the passengers because he makes sure to tell the address of the site as clearly as possible and tries to update on the severity of it all. The cameraman only focused back on him after a good 20 plus seconds of chaos, at which time he said he was going to stay and check the situation and promptly signed off. The anchorwoman only appears shaken by what she has witnessed to me... Not anything more than concern for fellow humans in her voice when she says her part.

Just what I got from it.. Maybe I'm too optimistic about the true human condition.

[Maple Leafs]

I guess if anyone here ever witnesses what was probably a fatal car accident at high speeds, which incidentally comes within a few feet of killing them too, they'll just calmly jog over to the nearest vehicle and start saving lives. I have to say, you guys are a pretty stoic bunch.

[jetpunk2000]

Did they happen to follow up on this? Was everyone involved OK?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Just a thought -- Perhaps the most famous incident ever captured on-air by someone on the scene might be the radio coverage of the Hindenburg disaster. You know, the legendary "Oh the humanity" audio.

As I recall, the guy did his job as long as he could (and actually resumed recording after composing himself), but he didn't go running into the rescue efforts either.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert...28announcer%29

And yet that reporting/recording is generally considered one of the most memorable in broadcast history. And I've never heard him criticized for not getting involved in the rescue effort. I don't really know that the number of rescuers is all that decisive here, judging from the footage I've seen of the Hindenburg aftermath, the situation could use all the help it could get.

I haven't seen this particular video, and probably won't go looking for it, I've seen enough car wrecks to last me a lifetime. But my point is that I don't know if there's much criticism deserved:
1) The reporter isn't (presumably) an EMT, this isn't his expertise & he could easily do as much harm as good.
2) There's legitimate reason to believe that he's a bit "shocky" from either what he's seen or how close he came or some combination of both.
3) Good reporters are trained, among other things, to report the story not BE the story. And in situations where you're stunned/shocked/whatever, I believe that training which has become as ingrained as instinct might be even more likely to take over.

His reaction might not have been everybody's reaction, but I don't believe he'd be alone in reacting the way he did either.

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

How much you wanna bet the person in the car didn't see the truck because they were too busy looking at the cameraman instead of paying attention to the road?

I have little doubt it played a role.

[Noop]

Wow. Guess this is America.....

[judicial clerk]

OK. I'm convinced. Its not a safe intersection.

[sabotai]

Checking to see if everyone is ok after a car accident is just a little different than running into a zepplin that is completely engulfed in flames.

Just a little.

[Maple Leafs]

Imagine if he had dropped his mic and ran straight for the car. I can just see it now:

"What a surprise, the reporter has to be the hero, he has to be the center of attention, god forbid he just have them call 911 and let the pros handle the life-saving. No, he has to make sure he looks good on camera, he probably crippled that poor woman dragging her out of the car like that..."

[sabotai]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Imagine if he had dropped his mic and ran straight for the car. I can just see it now:

"What a surprise, the reporter has to be the hero, he has to be the center of attention, god forbid he just have them call 911 and let the pros handle the life-saving. No, he has to make sure he looks good on camera, he probably crippled that poor woman dragging her out of the car like that..."

First off, that's total nonsense.

Secondly, the reporter must explicitly tell the people back at the station to call 911? I think them doing that would be a given.

Thirdly, you don't have to drag a person's body out of a car to help them after a car wreck.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Imagine if he had dropped his mic and ran straight for the car. I can just see it now:

"What a surprise, the reporter has to be the hero, he has to be the center of attention, god forbid he just have them call 911 and let the pros handle the life-saving. No, he has to make sure he looks good on camera, he probably crippled that poor woman dragging her out of the car like that..."

Good call IMO.

There's good reporters, bad reporters, and everything in between -- the one thing they all seem to have in common is that they can't really win for losing.

[Calis]

If I remember right from the update yesterday, there was only the driver of each vehicle, both males in their mid 40's.

One of them was ok..(I THINK it was the one who ran it to begin with), and only went in to the hospital for a check up type thing.

The other was in serious but stable condition I think. Not 100% sure on that though.

[Huckleberry]

Man, that woman is going to have a hard time convincing the cops it wasn't her fault.

Hopefully she's alright and hopefully the man driving the truck is alright, too. Often people will walk away from their cars even though they have a neck and/or back injury.

[Calis]

http://www.kwch.com/servlet/Satellit...77981746&path=

Here's an article from the news station it happened on. It was KWCH here, our CBS affiliate...was wrong on that one earlier.

Looks like the guy who did it is in critical condition, and the guy in the truck he hit is ok.

[Buccaneer]

I hate f-ing reporters and their f-ing 'if it bleeds, it leads' mentality. Here's the advice: you drop the f-ing camera and both of you help in any way you can.