An allegedly drunken, unlicensed driver rammed four bicyclists with his car at a stop light in Brooklyn Sunday— knocking them “over like dominoes” and critically injuring one.
The riders were waiting for the light to change on 12th Avenue at 39th Street in Borough Park at around 9:15 a.m. when Antonio Pina pulled his car out of a parking spot, stopped behind them for a few moments, then suddenly accelerated and plowed through the group, authorities said.
“He just turned into the bikers and started knocking them over like dominoes. It was a horrible scene,” said Justianna Kubersky, who was participating in the 28th Annual NYC Century Bike Tour organized by bicycle-advocacy group Transportation Alternatives. “We were just out for a peaceful Sunday bike ride and then it just went crazy.”
One victim Brandon Painter, 31, first feared it was part of a terror attack because of recent international events.
“I thought of Barcelona and Nice,” he told The Post by phone, referring to the vehicle attacks. “I saw a man completely take us over. I couldn’t get out.
“I saw he had a crazy look on his face. It was almost deranged. The look matched the action he just did.”
The driver then stopped and reversed his car, backing over 55-year-old Nancy Pease and pinning her underneath, according to witnesses.
“I ran down and saw she was pinned under the front passenger tire. It was terrible,” said local resident Hector Mercado, 43.
“She was twisted unnaturally. Her right arm was wrapped around her head. People were trying to pull her out from under the car but we told them to stop and wait for the fire department, who responded very quickly,” he said.
Other cyclists and bystanders who witnessed the incident pulled the driver from the car and held him on the ground until police arrived, witnesses said.
“When he got out of his car, he was just looking, like he wasn’t processing it,” said cyclist Robinson Hernandez, 43, who was also hit.
“This guy had drunk, bloodshot eyes.”
Pease was taken to Maimonides Medical Center in serious condition, sources said.
Painter went to the same hospital with bruises on his hands, elbows, knees and back.
Hernandez and a fourth victim declined medical attention.
Pina was given a Breathalyzer test, arrested and later charged with vehicular assault, driving while ability impaired and unlicensed operation, police said.
“Every New Yorker who rides a bike deserves to be able to travel safely and free from harm,” said Transportation Alternatives director Paul Steely White.
“Our thoughts are with the family of the victim, and we are praying for her speedy recovery.”
