EXCLUSIVE: Victim describes chaotic scene after motorcycle crashes into crowd at Commodore Barry Park
Police say 53-year-old Nisha Atkinson was arrested and is facing several charges, including reckless driving, reckless endangerment and improper licensing.
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What started as a summer get-together at Commodore Barry Park turned chaotic Sunday evening when police say a woman drove a three-wheeled motorcycle into a crowd, injuring 13 people.
Police say 53-year-old Nisha Atkinson was arrested and is facing several charges, including reckless driving, reckless endangerment and improper licensing.
One of the victims, 58-year-old Mr. Thompson, said people had been enjoying food, music and activities in the park before the crash happened.
“It had food, they had music, they had different activities,” Mr. Thompson said.
He said the DJ was wrapping up and telling the crowd about other summer events when the motorcycle suddenly came through.
“Out of nowhere, somebody just came through with the three-wheeler,” Mr. Thompson said. “I really didn’t see much because it happened so fast.”
Video from the scene shows the motorcycle with a chair wedged under the front wheel after the crash.
Mr. Thompson said he hit the ground and did not immediately realize what had happened.
“When all the smoke was basically clear, it was just a very chaotic scene with blood,” Mr. Thompson said.
He said people rushed to help the injured. Mr. Thompson escaped with minor cuts, bruises, scrapes and a sprained ankle, but said his friend was seriously hurt.
“When you see somebody that you care about on the ground and they’re leaking basically profusely from their head, it’s like, you know, my injury was very minute compared to his, so I was worried about my friend,” Mr. Thompson said.
Police have not said what caused Atkinson to lose control of the motorcycle. The investigation is ongoing.
“This is Brooklyn, so things happen,” Mr. Thompson said. “I’m just grateful that there was no casualties to anybody.”
