Mocobizscene-A driver attempting to flee from the police hit and injured eight individuals on a sidewalk in Midtown Manhattan late Sunday night. A video captured the moment an uncontrollable Mercedes attempted to escape from NYPD officers, who eventually cornered the vehicle near West 34th Street and Ninth Avenue.
The driver careened into an outdoor dining shed at Chirp, a Peruvian restaurant, before reversing and colliding with another car, prompting a swift response from officers. Boris Torres, the restaurant owner, explained how the police swiftly intervened and apprehended the suspect, preventing any further harm.
The pursuit began around 1:30 a.m. on Monday when law enforcement officers attempted to intervene in a dispute at the intersection of 33rd and Seventh.
The police reported that as the officers approached, the 44-year-old man quickly drove away. He recklessly collided with several cars and pedestrians while driving against traffic on 34th Street. Eventually, he crashed onto the sidewalk.
Among the injured were a police officer and a 39-year-old woman who found herself pinned under a food truck.
“It’s absolutely unbelievable. This isn’t the first time we’ve had an incident like this on New Year’s here. It actually happened to us about three years ago. It wasn’t a car back then, but someone actually robbed multiple stores,” explained Torres, who felt a sense of relief knowing that no one was seriously injured in Monday’s crash.
Torres recounted a previous incident where his cash register was stolen on New Year’s Day. This time, his restaurant’s awning was severely damaged, leaving him uncertain about when he will be able to reopen due to the Department of Buildings’ evaluation.
“I’m not sure if it will be covered by my insurance or the car’s insurance. I need to go to the precinct to obtain the report,” he mentioned. The authorities apprehended the driver and immediately rushed him to Bellevue Hospital as his condition was critical. Charges against him are currently pending.
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