Motorcycle Melee: What To Do If You're Faced With Similar Danger
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A recent road rage attack by bikers who surrounded an SUV on the Henry Hudson Parkway has many drivers wondering what they would do in a similar situation.
Now the NYPD and security experts have offered up some answers.
On Sunday, a man and his family were driving down the West Side Highway when numerous motorcycles surrounded his Range Rover.
The bikers then started to slow down, forcing the Range Rover to come to a complete stop. The driver wasn't able to stop in time and hit the back of one of the motorcycles, police said.
Once stopped, the bikers slashed the tires of the SUV and punched and kicked the vehicle, police said.
The driver then fled, running over a biker, who is now paralyzed, according to the man's wife.
A chase through Manhattan ensued, ending with the bikers attacking the Ranger Rover again before pulling the driver out and assaulting him, police said.
A more than six-minute video of the disturbing confrontation was posted on YouTube on Monday morning. It appeared to be taken from a camera mounted on a biker's helmet.
If you ever find yourself in this situation, police offer the following tips:
- As you drive be aware of your surroundings at all times
- Make sure to keep your doors locked and windows rolled up
- Do not confront the offenders and call 911 at once
- If possible, leave the scene and make your way to the nearest police precinct to file a police report -- do not delay as your memory will be freshest at that point
- Try to make a mental note of the appearance of the offenders and possibly their license plate numbers.
If you feel your life is in immediate danger, do not worry about leaving the scene of an accident -- but use proper judgment, police said.
Security experts echoed many of the NYPD's suggestions.
"Don't get out of your car. Don't do anything stupid," said Jeffrey Jankelovits, president of Manhattan Armor, which armors vehicles. "Have someone call 911 obviously. Do whatever you can, but do not leave your car. Do not open your windows."
Jankelovits also suggested honking your horn or turning your hazard lights on -- anything that would help "bring attention to your car."
The video shows the driver bolting twice after the bikers opened the driver's side door.
"You want to make sure your doors are locked and that nobody can just open your door and come in, like we saw on the second stop on the Henry Hudson," David Boehm, chief operating officer of Security USA, told CBS 2's Lou Young.
<strong>Watch The Full Video Below: WARNING -- GRAPHIC IMAGES</strong>
If you get into an accident and there is no threat to life, you must not leave -- especially without exchanging information with the other motorist first and ensuring that there are no injuries.
A verbal disagreement or argument with another motorist alone is no valid reason to leave the scene of an accident and could have criminal repercussions later, police said.
If you can get away safely and without further threat to your life, do so, and call 911 as soon as you can.
If fleeing, it's important to know where you're going, Jankelovits said.
"Is there a toll booth plaza up ahead?" he said. "Is there a gas station? Is there some place you can pull into safely with your car that has people there?"
But running comes with its own risks, Boehm noted.
"If you keep your vehicle under control ... you don't hit any bystanders, pedestrians, other vehicles," he said. "You're still responsible even though someone may be following you."
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