On September 13, 1899, a 68-year-old real estate man named Henry Bliss made history in a way no one ever wants to. He became the first person in the USA to die in an automobile accident.
As he was stepping off a streetcar at West 74th Street and Central Park West in New York City, he got struck by an electric-powered taxicab. At the time, automobiles were still very rare on the streets of New York. Most people traveled by horse and carriage or streetcar. As Mr. Bliss was helping a lady off the trolley, a taxi belonging to the Electric Vehicle Company hit him. The impact caused severe injuries to his head and chest. He was rushed to the hospital, but sadly, he passed away the next morning.
“ Fatally Hurt By Automobile ” was the next day’s headline in The New York Times, that described in detail how the accident happened…