Apple CEO Tim Cook Visits Victims of Last Week's Apple Store Crash

[MacRumors]

Apple CEO Tim Cook has visited the victims of last week's crash at the Apple Store in the Greater Boston area, where an SUV crashed through the front of the store, injuring multiple people and killing one.

Image Credit: WCVB​

According to local news channel Boston 25 News, Cook and Apple's chief of retail and people Deirdre O'Brien visited the victims of the crash at the South Shore Hospital. In a statement, the hospital said it was "grateful that Tim Cook and Deirdre O'Brien from Apple were able to come to South Shore Hospital on Friday to visit with some of the patients who were injured during last week's tragedy at the Apple Store in Hingham."

"The genuine caring and kindness shown by Tim and his team on this visit did so much to lift the spirits of the patients and our colleagues," the statement by Allen Smith, President of the hospital, added.

In a statement following the crash, Apple said it was "devastated by the shocking events" and the "tragic loss of a professional who was onsite supporting recent construction at the store." "We are doing everything we can to support our team members and customers at this very difficult time," the statement continued. The store remains closed at this time, according to a notice on Apple's website.

During his visit to Hingham, Massachusetts, Cook also stopped by a local diner, according to Boston 25 News and a post by the restaurant on Facebook.

Article Link: Apple CEO Tim Cook Visits Victims of Last Week's Apple Store Crash

 

[Gengar]

Someone was killed? Oh wow. May they RIP.

 

[kerr]

Hopefully the driver gets life in prison for this deliberate act

 

[SoldOnApple]

Class act. I bet right this second Apple is reviewing the feasibility or legality of adding bollards along the roadside of their street facing stores.

 

[maflynn]

Hopefully the driver gets life in prison for this deliberate act

No the driver was stating that his foot got caught in the accelerator and he tried hitting the brakes.

Horrible accident that in many ways could have been avoided.

Its truly horrible that a life was lost, but the other people who survived have years of rehabilitation, as some lost their limbs

In some respects Apple does share some blame, simply because the news was reporting that Apple turned down the idea of putting those cement pillars in front of the stores like so many other retailers do. This isn't the first time someone has crashed through an apple store though the prior ones were thieves doing the smash and grab

 

[DrJR]

Hopefully the driver gets life in prison for this deliberate act

I don't see where it was deliberate. Accidents happen.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

In some respects Apple does share some blame, simply because the news was reporting that Apple turned down the idea of putting those cement pillars in front of the stores like so many other retailers do. This isn't the first time someone has crashed through an apple store though the prior ones were thieves doing the smash and grab

Agreed and also since Apple does have pillars in front of some of their other stores. In my opinion, it had to be an aesthetics decision to decline. Safety should trump aesthetics. Much like Major League Baseball added safety netting to all parks a few years ago down the entire foul line. That is a worse look, but it enhanced safety which is ultimately more important.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

I don't see where it was deliberate. Accidents happen.

Yep and on that day early into it, I posted here that it could be an accident and I was called an ignorant idiot for suggesting that.

 

[4nNtt]

It has not yet been determined if this was a deliberate act or not.

The driver claimed his foot was stuck on the throttle, but that explanation is suspicious. The fire marshal told a few news sources he thought it was deliberate based on video footage. The driver claimed they were hitting the brake and it wasn’t working, but a RAV4 from the last 10 years would have cut the throttle if the brake was applied since it has a brake override system. The brake override clearly would have worked at the 70-80 MPH the car was reportedly traveling.

We need to wait for the investigation.

 

[SnappleRumors]

Hopefully the driver gets life in prison for this deliberate act

Doesn’t sound like it is deliberate…yet. The driver was charged with reckless homicide. A person operates recklessly when that person consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the lives or safety of the public might be endangered. It carries a sentence of 2.5 to 5 years and/or a fine of not more than $3000.

 

[TMRJIJ]

Thoughts and prayers to the families affected. This is especially hard during the holidays.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Doesn’t sound like it is deliberate…yet. The driver was charged with reckless homicide. A person operates recklessly when that person consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the lives or safety of the public might be endangered. It carries a sentence of 2.5 to 5 years and/or a fine of not more than $3000.

Sounds like a charge given when texting while driving and causing the death of someone, am I wrong?

 

[DominusNovus]

Not relevant, but a minor correction: Tim Cook went to a local steakhouse, not a diner.

 

[SnappleRumors]

Sounds like a charge given when texting while driving and causing the death of someone, am I wrong?

I‘m not familiar with Massachusetts law to answer, but having read what I believe is the controlling section it looks to encompass a variety of driving behaviors…and in my best guess distracted driving causing death could be one of them.

 

[DrJR]

Yep and on that day early into it, I posted here that it could be an accident and I was called an ignorant idiot for suggesting that.

That was a different time, lol

 

[Fruit Stand]

Hopefully the driver gets life in prison for this deliberate act

Where did you read or see that this was deliberate act?

 

[CarAnalogy]

Class act. I bet right this second Apple is reviewing the feasibility or legality of adding bollards along the roadside of their street facing stores.

Most stores already have them, I’m very surprised this one didn’t.

 

[BvizioN]

No the driver was stating that his foot got caught in the accelerator and he tried hitting the brakes.

Of course the driver would say that.

 

[rpmurray]

Yep and on that day early into it, I posted here that it could be an accident and I was called an ignorant idiot for suggesting that.

That's well past the attention span limit of most of the posters.

 

[tehabe]

I'm reminded of this Video by Not Just Bikes

 

[rpmurray]

Most stores already have them, I’m very surprised this one didn’t.

Apple's design team is still working on it. It needs to be subtle and not detract from the aesthetics of the store.

 

[EuroChilli]

No the driver was stating that his foot got caught in the accelerator and he tried hitting the brakes.

Horrible accident that in many ways could have been avoided.

Its truly horrible that a life was lost, but the other people who survived have years of rehabilitation, as some lost their limbs

In some respects Apple does share some blame, simply because the news was reporting that Apple turned down the idea of putting those cement pillars in front of the stores like so many other retailers do. This isn't the first time someone has crashed through an apple store though the prior ones were thieves doing the smash and grab

My condolences.

I once drove someone else's car that had a serious problem with the accelerator getting stuck, or rather the cable throttle assembly on the injector pump. Then another vehicle I drove the cruise control would not disengage when stepping on the brakes. In both cases I had to pull it out of gear to avoid situations just like this. Sure, the engines would completely over rev, but I then just turned the key off or while in neutral would stamp the pedal until it came unstuck.

In both cases it would have been squarely my problem if I'd caused an accident as the vehicle would have been considered un-roadworthy. I was not forced to drive either vehicle.

What kind of shoes was the driver wearing? To be honest, I drive barefoot whenever possible, even semi's, and I don't care what the law says in this case. I can feel the pedals much, much better, and much less chance of massive boots getting stuck. When wearing big boots one may inadvertently step on the accelerator when you intended stepping on the brakes, this has happened to me. I also seriously hope no one drives with stilettos, or smooth soled shoes, ever. I have wondered what it would be like to drive with snowboard boots, but I'm not nearly dumb enough to even try, especially in my Ford Fiesta.

 

[4nNtt]

No the driver was stating that his foot got caught in the accelerator and he tried hitting the brakes.

Horrible accident that in many ways could have been avoided.

Its truly horrible that a life was lost, but the other people who survived have years of rehabilitation, as some lost their limbs

In some respects Apple does share some blame, simply because the news was reporting that Apple turned down the idea of putting those cement pillars in front of the stores like so many other retailers do. This isn't the first time someone has crashed through an apple store though the prior ones were thieves doing the smash and grab

The model car had a brake override system. The brake should have overridden the throttle on that 2 year old RAV4 SUV. He was reportedly going 70-80 MPH when he hit the store. If he was really hitting the brake and it wasn’t working, this would be a Toyota recall situation… My opinion is he either wasn’t thinking clearly and didn’t press the brake at all or it was deliberate.

Toyota’s brake override system:

Toyota’s Brake Override System – How it Works | Auto Upkeep Blog

www.blog.autoupkeep.com

 

[tehabe]

In some respects Apple does share some blame, simply because the news was reporting that Apple turned down the idea of putting those cement pillars in front of the stores like so many other retailers do. This isn't the first time someone has crashed through an apple store though the prior ones were thieves doing the smash and grab

NO! Apple doesn't share any blame for this accident, the area is a parking lot where you have to drive slower than on a normal street. And the owner/driver is responsible for their car and that everything is working correctly, if they can't do that they shouldn't drive one. Cars are complex machines, that is why you need a permit to operate one and if you can't take care of your vehicle it can become very dangerous for other people.

 

[EuroChilli]

Some further thoughts on the matter. I also think modern cars have way too many distractions, despite their so called safety features, throw in cell phones and you have a recipe for disaster. Who cares how many volts your hybrid is putting back in to the battery while the vehicle is in motion. All I would need to know is how much further I can go, that's it. So, all you really need is fuel/range, speed & engine temp, everything else can wait. I don't need a rev counter, I can hear when a motor is staining, which comes from experience.

Even my 2014 Ford Fiesta has more instruments than I care for. But, I also have a 1998 Landrover Defender TDi 300, and that vehicle has just what you need to see while driving, nothing more.

My wife and I have each just got new phones, but we are not in a hurry to sync them with the hands free in the Fiesta. Even after 30 years on the road I still don't like talking on the phone while driving, even with a hands free. No phone calls in the Landrover, period. It's just too damn loud in there.