A Queens man was arrested early Wednesday morning on DWI charges after his car went out of control and slammed into a storefront in the East Village of Manhattan, injuring six people.
According to a report from NY1, Shawn Martin was driving a white Nissan Altima and came racing down Second Avenue at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Martin apparently lost control of the vehicle, which jumped a curb just before East 4th Street and then crashed into a flower display at a corner bodega, injuring three employees including a 60-year-old man. One employee remains hospitalized in critical condition.
Witnesses say the car slammed through everything on the sidewalk including a parking meter, telephone booth, a tree and a fire hydrant that flew into the air and hit a bike rider, though the rider is expected to be okay. The car eventually came to a stop in the middle of an intersection.
According to a report from the Associated press, Martin's Altima was racing another car down Second Avenue when the accident occurred.
"They were swerving around cars," said bystander Dr. Alvara Alban. "When the white car swerved right, it lost control. The other car never stopped."
"Everything that was in the way, he took it out," said another witness to the crash, Rafael Fuentes.
Police arrested Martin and charged him with DWI for refusing to take a breathalyzer test, according to reports. Police say Martin also allegedly had hashish in his car at the time of his arrest.
Martin has a prior arrest record for DWI and cocaine possession, according to officials.
Martin and a female passenger in his car were also treated for minor injuries, but are expected to be fine.
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