A street performer bloodied a deliveryman in Manhattan Wednesday because he drove his truck through their turf in Battery Park, witnesses said.
The driver was carrying ice and other items to six trucks that primarily sell hot dogs and ice cream near the Statue of Liberty ferry, said Md Alauddin, 32, who supervises the carts.
“We pay a lot of money to the city for this contract … we need a delivery of ice and things to do business,” said Alauddin, who works for NY Picnic Co.
But when the truck entered the park around 1:30 p.m. a group of young men who break dance for tourists grew angry.
“Today, my friend was driving the truck, the show-time guys stop the truck, say, ‘No, No, No. No park!’” Alauddin said.
“Three of them standing in front of the truck,” he said. “I tell them we have a permit, we need to make deliveries, they no listen, nothing. They tell me no move, so I say, ‘O.K. No move.’”
Alauddin said he went into the truck and starting taking things out and handing them to the driver, who was outside, so he could ferry them on foot to the carts.
“I am inside, my friend is outside, one guy comes up and punch him, hard,” Allaudin said. “A lot of blood.”
Most of the dancers fled, but two of them were still picking up their stuff when Department of Parks officers showed up, Alauddin said.
“Parks police don’t ask them nothing,” he said. “We are very upset for this… when NYPD arrive everyone is gone.”
He said the deliveryman was taken to Bellevue Hospital.
One vendor said he called the NYPD after seeing the fracas.
“Delivery guy coming, they say no car,” the vendor, who declined to provide his name, said. “Al blood. Me call police, police come, ambulance come.”
Police were unable to provide details about the incident, but said there didn’t appear to have been any arrests.