WEST VILLAGE, Manhattan (WABC) — A bicyclist is in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle that led police on a chase through Manhattan on Tuesday.
The vehicle, a Mercedes-Benz, was being pursued by police in the East Village, when it fled westbound towards the West Village, according to preliminary information.
Sources tell Eyewitness News that police were conducting a firearms investigation involving a group of gun suspects in Alphabet City, when an NYPD camera caught what appeared to be a firearm involving the people in the car.
That’s when police swooped in to pull over the vehicle, leading to the chase.
One suspect bailed from the vehicle, ran away and was caught. Meanwhile, the driver was able to escape in the car.
Police say they broke off the chase in the East Village and called the description of the car over the radio.
Sources say officers in the West Village then spotted the car a few minutes later driving westbound on Houston Street.
Police then attempted to pull over the car. The driver refused then fled from the stop on MacDougal and West Houston Street as pickleball players and pedestrians ducked for cover.
Approaching MacDougal, the driver swerved into the parking lane and hit the bicyclist, a 54-year-old woman, who is in critical condition, but is expected to survive.
The driver then turned north on MacDougal, got stuck in oncoming traffic and then attempted to flee on foot.
“He hit someone on a bike, then hit the curb and he tried to get away going up the street,” witness Rody Biggart said. “It was one way, he got blocked.”
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Officers chased the suspect down and took him into custody. Sources say he has five prior arrests, mostly for domestic violence.
The passenger who bailed from the car in Alphabet City has more than 20 arrests and is currently on parole and wearing an ankle bracelet after a previous gun charge.
Police say the pursuit never exceeded 21 miles per hour, but they’re conducting a review to make sure officers stayed within policy.
The investigation is ongoing.
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