Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Streetsblog

Video: In Car-Bike Hit-and-Run, “Heroic” Bus Driver Saves the Day

A bus driver from Bethlehem is being lauded as folk hero in the cycling community after his quick work to prevent a would-be hit-and-run driver from fleeing the scene.

LANTA bus driver Richard Gubish, Jr. was watching in his rear view mirror when a 17-year-old driver rear-ended a local cyclist. When the driver attempted to flee the scene, Gublish acted fast to prevent escape, even inspiring other motorists to cooperate in the arrest, according to the police account of the situation:

Mr. Gubish took immediate and decisive action and positioned his bus across the lanes of the bridge, effectively blocking the path of the getaway driver. Another witness to the crash, Judson Smull, stopped to render aid to the injured Pavlick, who implored Smull to go after the offending driver to get the license plate. Smull also took immediate action, and following the lead of Mr. Gubish, positioned his car directly behind the offending vehicle, further blocking any attempt to escape.

The next person to cross the bridge was a local police officer. He apprehended the juvenile driver and charged him with violating the state's brand new four-foot passing law, passed earlier that morning.

Here's another interesting twist: the blogosphere credited Bethlehem's Coalition for Appropriate Transportation for helping educate the local police force about the law. The victim, Frank Pavlick, works for the organization, helping manage the Bethlehem Bicycle cooperative. He was not badly injured.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Safety First on Third: DOT Numbers Show a Roadway Safer for All Users

Say it again: Bike lanes make roadways safer for all users.

February 19, 2025

Wednesday’s Headlines: Mayor in a Whirlwind Edition

Mayor Adams will learn more about his fate today. Plus other news.

February 19, 2025

Another View: It’s Time for Residential Parking Permits

So people in the livable streets movement think residential parking permits might actually work. Read on...

February 19, 2025

Analysis: Residential Parking Permits Would Be Bad for City Streets

Congestion pricing isn't driving more people to park Uptown — and even if it did, "hunting licenses" for parking spots wouldn't help.

February 18, 2025

Too Much Illegal Parking Prompts Community Board to Reject New Housing

Even after the city greatly reduced parking mandates in the City of Yes initiative, parking is still at the center of many debates about new housing.

February 18, 2025
See all posts