In the early hours of New Year’s Day, chaos unfolded in Midtown Manhattan as an out-of-control driver, allegedly fleeing a dispute, wreaked havoc, striking seven pedestrians and injuring a police officer before crashing onto a crowded sidewalk.
Midtown Manhattan
The incident began when the 44-year-old suspect engaged in a dispute with another man on Seventh Avenue and West 33rd Street. Police swiftly responded just after 1:30 a.m., attempting to intervene in the altercation. In an attempt to evade law enforcement, the suspect recklessly drove off in a black Mercedes, heading the wrong way on Seventh Avenue before turning westbound on West 34th Street.
Driving for several blocks, the suspect’s erratic spree culminated in a crash on the sidewalk just before Ninth Avenue, where the vehicle smashed into the Chirp Peruvian Kitchen restaurant’s outdoor dining shed, owned by Boris Torres. Surveillance footage captured the dramatic moment, revealing the chaos as the car collided with structures.
During the reckless driving spree, the suspect struck a 39-year-old woman, trapping her under a food cart. Six other civilians also fell victim to the incident, sustaining injuries. All injured parties were promptly transported to Bellevue Hospital, where they are reported to be in stable condition.
NYPD officers managed to converge on the suspect’s car and effectuate an arrest. The driver, now in critical but stable condition at Bellevue Hospital, faces pending charges. One police officer, struck during the initial dispute, was also hospitalized in stable condition at NYU Langone, while two other officers received on-scene treatment.
The aftermath of the crash led to the closure of West 34th Street between 9th and 8th Avenues, causing traffic disruptions in an area still bustling with revelers concluding their New Year’s Eve festivities. The incident stands as a stark reminder of the unpredictability and dangers that can unfold in urban settings, even during celebratory moments.
