A man from New Jersey led police on a dangerous rampage through several blocks in midtown Manhattan, striking a handful of pedestrians and cops near Times Square where revelers had just watched the ball drop.
Police said the Fort Lee man had been fighting with his girlfriend inside a BMW sedan near 7th Avenue and West 33rd Street, about 10 blocks from celebrations in Times Square. When cops on New Year's Eve detail approached the car around 1:30 a.m., the fight apparently turned physical, law enforcement sources said.
Those police officers attempted to de-escalate the situation when the driver stepped on the gas, heading the wrong direction down 7th Avenue, sources said.
Police said the driver took a turn down West 34th Street and mounted his car on the sidewalk, where he ended up striking four woman in their 20s and 30s. All four women had minor injuries.
The man got back on the road driving toward 8th Avenue -- but that didn't last long. Police sources said the driver got back on a sidewalk and struck a cop who suffered minor injuries; then he got back on the road.
The 45-year-old would remount the sidewalk several more times, including over on 9th Avenue where sources said he struck another police officer. When he got near West 34th Street, the driver came to a brief stop after crashing into a restaurant.
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Police were able to catch up to the driver, but not before he struck a few cars near 7th Avenue. At some point in the rampage, he also struck a halal cart that pinned a woman underneath.
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Charges against the man were still pending Monday afternoon; the investigation is ongoing.
