Jill Tarlov Dies From Injuries After Being Struck By Cyclist In Central Park

Jill Tarlov died over the weekend from injuries she sustained while walking in Central Park. She was crossing West Drive in Central Park near W. 63rd St. on Thursday when she was struck by cyclist Jason Marshall, 31.  She hit her head on the ground and suffered severe head trauma.

"My wife was beautiful in every way imaginable," CBS executive Mike Wittman said of his spouse, Jill Tarlov, in a statement. "Jill was the most amazing mother to Matthew and Anna, who taught them above all that kindness, compassion and a spirit for life were the right morals to live by." 

Manhattan

A woman who was struck by a bicyclist in New York's Central Park last Thursday and had been on life support died over the weekend, according to WCBS. 

The crash that killed Jill Tarlov is bringing renewed focus to the long-running tension between pedestrians and cyclists, in one of the city's most popular public spaces.

In Central Park, pedestrians share the road with bicyclists who are required to obey the rules of the road. The speed limit is 25 miles-per-hour and they're expected to slow down at crosswalks and yield to pedestrians, said CBS News correspondent Vinita Nair.

New York City Police were seen ticketing bicyclists on Sunday at a busy crosswalk in the park.

But last Thursday all safety precautions failed, when a cyclist crashed into the 58-year-old Tarlov.

According to police, 31-year-old Jason Marshall was riding southbound in a bicycle lane when he swerved to avoid a group of pedestrians. Instead he hit Tarlov, just as the mother of two was stepping off the curb.

Tarlov, the wife of a senior vice president at CBS, suffered severe head injuries.

In a statement, CBS Television Stations' Senior Vice President of Finance Mike Wittman said in regards to the passing of his wife:

"My wife was beautiful in every way imaginable. Jill was the most amazing mother to Matthew and Anna, who taught them above all that kindness, compassion, and a spirit for life were the right morals to live by. Everyone who had ever met her was somehow made better by her company.

"Even though she has been taken from us far too soon, her spirit will live on forever. On behalf of our family, I would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers and request privacy during the difficult times ahead."

It's still not clear who had the right of way or how fast the biker was going. According to the New York Post, witnesses told police that Marshall yelled at Tarlov to get out of the way, but they think she didn't hear him.


Jason Marshall, 31, struck Jill Tarlov, 59, after yelling at her to get out of the way.

The accident comes just a month after the NYPD completed a cycle safety initiative, part of a plan to curb pedestrian deaths. During a two-week period, officers issued 4,300 moving violations across the city.

On Sunday, the cycling group Marshall belongs to issued a statement saying, "Our collective thoughts are with Jill Tarlov and her loved ones during this very difficult time . . . We know it only takes one moment of bad judgment from one individual to cause major problems for all of us."

Marshall, an avid cyclist who has been known to log his distance and speeds online, stayed at the scene after the accident.

He has not been charged, though the investigation is still ongoing.

A statement from Anton Guitano, Chief Operating Officer, CBS Local Media, and Peter Dunn, President, CBS Television Stations reads:

"We are heartsick over the passing of our dear friend and former 1010 WINS Radio colleague Jill Tarlov. As we mourn the loss of our friend and console Mike and his family, we are committed to doing what we can to bring greater public awareness of the perils of unsafe and distracted driving by motorists and cyclists that endangers pedestrians. Far too many people have been killed or seriously injured on our streets."

Investigators on the scene of the crash in Central Park on Thursday.

On Friday a team of police officers were stationed near the crash site handing out safety pamphlets and urging cyclists to slow down and obey traffic rules.  Officers were also ticketing cyclists for violations. (Photo: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) click on image to enlarge

Read More:

Wife of CBS Senior VP hit by bicyclist, dies
WCBS -  September 22, 2014 

Woman, 59, dies days after being struck by bicyclist on Upper West Side

New York Daily News - September 22, 2014 -  By Tina Moore

Woman Critically Injured After Getting Struck By Cyclist In Central Park ­
A Walk In The Park - September 19, 2014