A 23-year-old man lost his life and at least four others sustained injuries in a horrific crash on Sunday night in Manhattan. The driver responsible for the collision, identified as Mahbub Ali, a 26-year-old resident of Queens, was arrested on the spot and charged with manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, assault, and driving while intoxicated, according to authorities.
A car driver plowed into a cyclist and three pedestrians in Manhattan — killing one of them. The driver was taken into custody. Charges are pending. https://t.co/BrOjIjuEWg
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) June 5, 2023
The tragic incident occurred at the intersection of East 21st Street and Third Avenue in the Gramercy neighborhood. Reports suggest that Ali was driving a gray 2021 Hyundai Sonata at a high speed northbound on Third Avenue when the vehicle veered onto the sidewalk at approximately 7:30 p.m.
At the moment of impact, the 23-year-old pedestrian, who was lawfully crossing Third Avenue within the marked crosswalk, was struck by Ali’s vehicle, causing him to be forcefully knocked to the ground, as stated by the police. Ali then swerved to the right, colliding with an 18-year-old man riding an e-bike as he turned onto Third Avenue from East 21st Street.
Following this initial collision, the sedan continued onto the sidewalk, hitting a 21-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman walking by the sidewalk. The vehicle then collided with a 2013 Chevrolet Express van parked ahead. However, there was no one in the van at the time.
The 23-year-old pedestrian, whose name has not been revealed, succumbed to his injuries after being rushed to Bellevue Hospital. Meanwhile, the teen riding an e-bike suffered leg and back pain while the 21-year-old man and 26-year-old woman sustained leg injuries, all requiring medical attention and transportation to Bellevue Hospital.
The impact of the crash also got to a 25-year-old woman in the front seat of Ali’s car, causing her leg injuries. The extent of the wounds she sustained is unclear.
Speaking to PIX11, a witness at the crash site identified as George Colli said that the incident happened very close to a place that is home to 300 to 400 immigrants. “This happened right at a LinkNYC Wi-Fi and charging station where many of the immigrants will go to make calls home, video, FaceTiming, and so on,” he told the news outlet.
According to Coli, the victims who were injured had been at the LinkNYC station so as to call their families back home.
