Content deleted Content added
→Altercation: rewrote sentence to make more concise |
|||
Line 11:
===Altercation===
The altercation began when a [[sport utility vehicle]] (SUV) driven by motorist Alexian Lien came in contact with a group of motorcyclists in Lower Manhattan.<ref name="Attack by motorcyclists">{{cite news|last1=McKinley|first1=James|title=Driver Testifies About Attack by Motorcyclists on West Side Highway|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/19/nyregion/driver-testifies-about-attack-by-motorcyclists-on-west-side-highway.html?_r=0|agency=The New York Times|date=May 18, 2015}}</ref> Lien, 33, is a [[Chinese American]] [[banker]]. His wife and two-year-old daughter were also in the vehicle heading to New Jersey to celebrate the couple's anniversary.<ref name="China morning post">{{cite news|title=Bikers assault banker in New York highway clash|url=http://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1323010/bikers-assault-banker-new-york-highway-clash|newspaper=South China Morning Post|date=October 3, 2013}}</ref> According to Lien, he dialed 911 after he saw several motorcycles run a red light and nearly hit a woman carrying a baby, but reached a New Jersey operator.<ref name="Attack by motorcyclists"/> He said the bikers were "popping wheelies" and slapping the tops of cars as they drove past and one motorcyclist was maneuvering to block other vehicles to allow the bikes to pass. Lien said he was "annoyed" and kept driving past. Following the incident, authorities familiar with motorcycle groups around New York stated that it was a common practice for the groups to "take over the entire highway for the purpose of slowing it down to allow others to race in front of them".<ref name="reckless behavior">{{cite news|last=Goodman|first=David|title=2 Bikers Are Charged; Investigation Continues|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/02/nyregion/motorcyclist-struck-by-suv-is-arrested-and-charged-with-reckless-behavior.html?_r=0|newspaper=New York Times|date=October 1, 2013}}</ref> His wife tossed a half-eaten plum and a water bottle at the bikers.<ref name=Long>{{cite news|last1=Long|first1=Colleen|title=Assault trial begins for undercover NYPD detective embroiled in biker melee with SUV driver|url=http://www.startribune.com/trial-begins-for-undercover-nypd-detective-in-biker-melee/304124631/|agency=Star Tribune|date=May 18, 2015}}</ref> Shortly after, on New York City's [[Henry Hudson Parkway]], a motorcyclist named Christopher Cruz merged in front of Lien and applied his brakes, quickly slowing down before being involved in light bumper contact with Lien's Range Rover. Cruz reportedly sustained minor injuries after being struck by the SUV.<ref name="reckless behavior"/><ref name="reckless behavior">{{cite news|last=Goodman|first=David|title=2 Bikers Are Charged; Investigation Continues|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/02/nyregion/motorcyclist-struck-by-suv-is-arrested-and-charged-with-reckless-behavior.html?_r=0|newspaper=New York Times|date=October 1, 2013}}</ref>
Lien and many of the motorcyclists stopped their vehicles. The video shows many of the bikers gathering around the [[Range Rover]] driven by Lien. "And as they're around my car, I feel it being hit, being kicked," he said.<ref name=ABC/> Lien accelerated to escape, reportedly driving over three motorcycles and a rider, named Edwin Mieses, who had dismounted and was in front of the Range Rover. "I'm horrified at this point, and I recall asking my wife, 'What do I do? What do I do?' She says, 'Just go! Just go! And I make a hard right because I see there's an opening and I ... I just go." Lien said.<ref name=ABC>{{cite news|last1=Long|first1=Colleen|title=Biker Melee Victim Testifies in Undercover NYPD Cop's Trial|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/trial-begins-undercover-nypd-detective-biker-melee-31123670|agency=ABC News|date=May 18, 2015}}</ref><ref name=chase>{{cite news|title=Motorcyclists Chase, Attack SUV driver in New York|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/video/motorcyclists-chase-attack-suv-driver-new-york-20424104|newspaper=ABC News|date=2013-09-30}}</ref> Mieses was severely injured, suffering a fractured spine and punctured lung.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/05/nyregion/injured-biker-was-playing-peacemaker-when-suv-hit-him-lawyer-says.html |title=Biker Was Playing Peacemaker When S.U.V. Hit Him, Lawyer Says |first=Joseph|last=Goldstein|publisher=[[New York Times]] |date=October 4, 2013 |accessdate=January 1, 2014}}</ref><ref name="newsone">{{cite web|url=http://newsone.com/2734674/new-york-city-biker-attack-edwin-mieses-jr-alexian-lien/|title=Undercover NYPD Cop Present At NY Biker Attack|first=Associated|last=Press|publisher=[[Newsone]]|date=October 5, 2013 |accessdate=January 1, 2014}}</ref> Mieses later stated that he was checking on Cruz after his collision with the Range Rover and was walking back to his bike when he was hit.<ref name=Brown/>
| |||