12 injured when motorcycle strikes group inside Brooklyn park
FORT GREENE, Brooklyn (WABC) -- Twelve people were injured after a motorcycle crashed into a crowd gathered at a Brooklyn park during a community event Sunday evening.
The crash happened just after 6:30 p.m. inside Commodore Barry Park at Flushing Avenue and Navy Street in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn.
Police say a 53-year-old woman, identified as Neisha Atkinson, allegedly lost control of the motorcycle and struck a group of people in the park.
Authorities say seven men and five women, ranging in age from 36 to 73 years old, were hurt. All 12 victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries, including bruises, scratches, lacerations and injuries to the head or back. They were listed in stable condition Monday morning, and many have been released from the hospital and are recovering.
Park-goers know it could have been worse.
"There's a field here. People come in all the time and it's dangerous," said Brooklyn resident Khamani Barron. "Like you see all these kids running around with no parents."
Witnesses told Eyewitness News the park was crowded for a special event featuring a DJ when the motorcycle drove into the gathering.
Jerome Mitchell says that on warm summer nights, the park is full of people coming together.
"They always have a DJ out in the summer. Usually, you know, Sundays on the weekends," Mitchell said. "I know it was crowded, so I just feel sorry for the people to get rid of them. I was going to stay down here yesterday, but I didn't. I'm glad I did. But I'm... I'm fortunate. So, I feel sorry for the people that got hurt."
Video from the scene showed what appeared to be a chair lodged in one of the motorcycle's front wheels following the crash.
Police have charged Atkinson with two counts of reckless endangerment, reckless driving, failure to yield to pedestrians and improper licensing. She was also injured in the crash and is recovering at a hospital.
People who know the driver told Eyewitness News they do not believe the crash was intentional.
"She's not a bad person, she's a good person. I'm telling you that she's a good person," said Mike Smith.
"And then she turned and she hit everybody over here. Everybody that was sitting here went up in the air," witness Kim Tammy said.
The investigation into the cause of the crash remains ongoing.
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