Driver Jumps Curb, Plows into East Village Bodega, Hurts 6

One person was seriously hurt in the crash near Second Avenue and East Fifth Street

A driver jumped a curb in the East Village Wednesday morning, slamming into a bodega, injuring six people and leaving a trail of debris and broken glass along the sidewalk, officials said. 

Police say the 32-year-old driver lost control of the car near Second Avenue and East Fifth Street, hopped the curb and plowed through a block and a half of street signs, fire hydrants and bike racks before hitting a cyclist on a Citi Bike near East Fourth Street.

The cyclist and several pedestrians standing outside the bodega when the car barreled toward them around 7 a.m. taken to the hospital. One of the pedestrian victims had injuries that fire officials described as life-threatening; the others were expected to be OK.

Chopper 4 captured images of twisted bicycles strewn on the sidewalk and shattered glass in the street. 

"Everything that was in the way, he took it out," said bystander Rafael Fuentes.

Bodega owner Ratik Shah described the crash as "like a one-second tornado... the car swept the whole storefront, basically left everything in chaos." 

Witnesses told police the car was moving at a high rate of speed before the crash. Alvaro Alban said it appeared two cars were racing down Second Avenue before the accident.

"They were swerving around cars. When the white car swerved right, it lost control," he told the AP.

The driver of the white rental car was identified by police as Shaun Martin, of Queens. Chief NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said he refused a Breathalyzer test and has prior drunken driving arrests.

Drugs were also allegedly found stashed in his socks when he was treated at the hospital. 

Information on an attorney for Martin wasn't immediately available. 
 

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