Video captures near miss as two cars crash into Brooklyn building
A dramatic video captured the intense moment two drivers, in what is suspected to be a road rage incident, crashed into a building in Brooklyn, barely missing an innocent bystander who miraculously escaped unscathed, but with minor injuries. The chilling footage shows a pedestrian, dressed in a blue tracksuit, leisurely walking along Fulton Street in Bedford Stuyvesant at approximately 11:15 p.m. on Tuesday when suddenly, a black Cadillac and a BMW came careening into the frame, both speeding through a red light.
The pedestrian, a 20-year-old man, narrowly dodged the speeding vehicles, managing to avoid a direct hit as the BMW rammed into the building. The structure, an under-construction yoga studio, was left in ruins by the violent impact, mere weeks before its grand opening. The bystander was injured, as were both drivers: Anthony Hayes, 56, behind the wheel of the Cadillac, and Robert Walker, 43, driving the BMW. All three individuals were transported to Kings County Hospital in stable condition.
Hayes, hailing from Binghampton, N.Y., was charged with several offenses, including vehicular assault, drunk driving, resisting arrest, reckless endangerment, driving under the influence, aggravated driving while intoxicated, and reckless driving. Walker, on the other hand, from Stroudsbourg, Pa., was charged with vehicular assault, criminal mischief, and disregarding a red light. The aftermath of the accident was grave, causing extensive damage to the unopened yoga studio, Noir Yoga, which had to postpone its grand opening originally set for August 1, as reported by Mason Mason, the owner.
In the wake of the collision, the National Grid was called to the site to shut off the gas supply as a precautionary measure, while the Department of Buildings was also notified, corroborated by the FDNY. Mason expressed shock and dismay, stating, “It’s graphic. It’s just jarring and an immense amount of damage. I’m like, how could something like this happen?” The repercussions of this distressing event go beyond the physical damage, impacting the lives of those involved and the business’ future.
This calamitous incident in the heart of Brooklyn serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers of road rage and reckless driving on our streets. Though the bystander and drivers escaped with their lives, the psychological and emotional toll of witnessing such a catastrophic event cannot be understated. It is a stark wake-up call to the community, emphasizing the importance of safe and responsible road behavior to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.