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Bicyclist Critically Injured by Mercedes in Bensonhurst

By Julie Shapiro | March 21, 2012 5:39pm | Updated on March 21, 2012 8:14pm
A cyclist was badly hurt in an accident at 18th Avenue and 73rd Street March 21, 2012.
A cyclist was badly hurt in an accident at 18th Avenue and 73rd Street March 21, 2012.
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DNAinfo/Nicholas Rizzi

By Nicholas Rizzi and Julie Shapiro

DNAinfo Staff

BROOKLYN — A bicyclist was clinging to life Wednesday afternoon after being struck by an out of control Mercedes that also hit several other vehicles, officials said.

The injured cyclist went into cardiac arrest after the hit-and-run accident on 18th Avenue and 73rd Street about 4:25 p.m., the FDNY said. The incident comes just a day after drivers in stolen Mercedes crashed into cops in Queens and Brooklyn

Paramedics rushed the cyclist to Maimonides Hospital where he was listed in critical condition.

Witness Peter Luca said the trouble started when the Mercedes smashed into a small school bus on 70th Street and 18th Avenue and then tried to race away.

The bus, which did not have any children on board, chased the Mercedes, which swerved into another lane and slammed into the cyclist, who was delivering food for a restaurant, Luca said.

"He flew up in the air," Luca said.

The Mercedes then hit a parked Range Rover before coming to rest near the corner of 18th Avenue and 73rd Street.

The crumpled bicycle was still on the street hours later, along with the cyclist's abandoned shoes.

The driver of the Mercedes was taken to Lutheran Hospital in unknown condition, police said.

Charges were pending.