Injured good Samaritan ticketed for jaywalking

[February 26, 2009]  DENVER (AP) -- A good Samaritan who pushed three people out of the path of a pickup before he was struck and injured has been ticketed for jaywalking.

Family members say 58-year-old Jim Moffett and another man were helping two elderly women cross a busy Denver street in a snowstorm when he was hit Friday night.

Moffett suffered bleeding in the brain, broken bones, a dislocated shoulder and a possible ruptured spleen. He remained hospitalized Wednesday in serious but stable condition.

The Colorado State Patrol issued the citation. Trooper Ryan Sullivan told the Rocky Mountain News that despite Moffett's intentions, jaywalking caused the accident.

The other good Samaritan was also cited for jaywalking. The pickup driver was cited with careless driving causing injury.

Sullivan says the two elderly women haven't been cited but the investigation is ongoing.

"It's a horrible tragedy," he said.

Sullivan said Moffett and the others weren't in a crosswalk, but said he didn't know why the bus stop was in an area without one.

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Information from: Rocky Mountain News, http://www.rockymountainnews.com/

[Associated Press]

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