A New York City street vendor who was loading items into his van in Queens had both his legs crushed when a person trying to park a car hit him, police say.
Police say just before 11 p.m. Thursday night in the area of Drew Street and 101st Avenue in Ozone Park, a man driving the sedan was trying to parallel park behind the van when he quickly sped up and hit the victim who was standing behind the van and in front of the sedan.
The driver of the sedan sped off, but quickly returned to the scene, where police arrested him, officials said.
A witness said it appeared to be an accident.
“I guess he changed the gear to drive,” Maz Islam said. “Instead of hitting the brake, he hit the gas and rammed into the other guy.”
The street vendor was taken to an area hospital, where he is in critical condition, according to police.
Mustafa Rahman, a friend of the vendor who was hit told NBC 4 New York that he is a 52-year year-old man who is married. He owns a fruit stand on 101st Avenue, the friend said. They both came to America from Bangladesh.
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“I’ve known him for 15 years,” Rahman said. "He is a very hard worker.”
The charges the driver of the seden is facing were not immediately known.
