Caught on video: Driver doing donuts hits man watching stunt on Manhattan street
NEW YORK -- The NYPD is looking for the hit-and-run driver who ran over a man while driving erratically in SoHo.
On Monday, CBS2's Jenna DeAngelis spoke to the victim's uncle, who called the incident, which was caught on camera, traumatizing.
It was so loud, it woke neighbors from their sleep. They witnessed hundreds of spectators surrounding a red sedan as the driver did continuous donuts in the street. Video of the incident was captured Saturday at around midnight at Vandam and Greenwich streets.
Christopher Brito, 23, appeared to be taking video when he fell to the ground and was run over. The horrified crowd is seen rushing in.
"It's very dramatic. I'm not gonna lie. I cried last night. I woke up scared. It's a little traumatizing, especially when it happens to your family," said Charles, the victim's uncle.
He said Christopher is a great, energetic guy and a hardworking sneaker enthusiast. Charles visited him at Bellevue Hospital, where he's in intensive care.
"He's alert, thank God," Charles said of his nephew's condition, adding, "He's in surgery because he got a fractured skull and arms."
Brito's mother posted a GoFundMe page. It was the worst phone call she received in her life and said he has a long recovery.
"It's very serious. He's lucky to be alive," Charles said.
The NYPD is looking for the driver who fled the scene. Police are hoping someone recognizes the distinctive yellow decal on the red Infiniti which reads "Tyler Spec."
"I just hope these kids would stop playing with their life like that because it looks all fun and games at the beginning with all these cars, drag racing, whatever it is they're doing out there, but they gotta think about their life. I just almost lost my nephew, so you have to think about your choices," Charles said.
The neighbors that DeAngelis spoke to off camera said this is the second time they woke up to cars doing donuts in the middle of the night in the past month.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.