21-year-old Steven Morales was charged with aggravated unlicensed operator of a motor vehicle. Morales was charged Tuesday afternoon, while hospitalized at New York Presbyterian Hospital.
After being treated for his injuries, he was released into police custody, and is expected to be arraigned in Lower Manhattan later today.
The accident happened inside the East 76th Street parking garage at 9:45 a.m.
The Lexus SUV went into the elevator shaft backwards.
Emergency workers freed Morales driver about an hour after the accident.
A second person, a customer, was being treated for a minor injury.
The vehicle was removed from the shaft just before noon.
CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS FROM THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT
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