Woman 'cut in half by bus which drove off leaving her to die in road'

A 70-year-old woman was “cut in half” by an out-of-service bus that failed to stop, leaving her to die in the road. Carol Bell, who was walking with the aid of a wheeled walker, was crossing a road at about 6.15am yesterday in Brooklyn, New York. The driver, identified as Paul Roper, was making a turn when he hit her head on.

“She was cut in half ... definitely in half,” witness Ramon Garcia said.

“I tried to help her but she was too bloody. There was a lot of blood.”

Mr Garcia, 48, said he was stunned the driver failed to stop.

Police later obtained CCTV footage which showed the bus stopping momentarily but then continuing on.

“He just kept on going,” Mr Garcia said of the driver.

“He never realised what had happened. It’s a big machine. I guess you don’t feel something like that.”

Police later arrested Roper, a 15-year veteran of the Metropolitan Transportation Agency, on leaving the scene of the accident and other charges.

"This is a terrible tragedy, and our hearts and prayers go out to all family and friends," Transit Workers Union Local 100 President John Samuelsen said.

"We will closely follow the investigation, which is in a very early stage."

There are no bus routes at the corner where Ms Bell was killed but out-of-service vehicles are permitted to take any route back to their depot.