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Driver Loses Control Near Citi Field, Killing Car Mechanic

By  Janon Fisher and Ben Fractenberg | April 23, 2013 3:16pm | Updated on April 23, 2013 7:48pm

WILLETS POINT — An elderly driver killed one man and severely injured two others when he lost control of his car near Citi Field on Tuesday and rammed through the front of the autobody shop where they were the victims were working, officials and witnesses said.

The three victims were rushed to New York Hospital Queens at about 11:40 a.m. where one was pronounced dead, fire officials said. Another mechanic's legs were severed just below the knees and the third man was in serious condition, the FDNY said.

"The guy was coming too fast and the next thing I know he went into the shop," said Zach Arzo, 38, the owner of New Pamir Autobody, where the crash occurred. "I saw a guy laying down bleeding. I think he lost both his legs."

The unidentified driver was heading southbound in a blue 1992 Toyota Corolla on 126th Street — a straight road that borders the ball field — when he veered across three lanes between 35th and 36th avenues into the repair shop, according to witnesses.

Another driver, James Hart, 43, said that the man was driving erratically and rear-ended him in his black Mercedes twice before speeding past him and into the shop.

Police said the accident caused the car to lose control, but as of Wednesday afternoon had made no arrests. They said the investigation was ongoing.

Hart said he saw the first mechanic fly into the air when he was hit.

"That guy just stared at me," he said. "I knew that he was dead."

Hart said that he found some rope and tied a tourniquet around the other worker's legs to stop the bleeding from his severed limbs.

Neighbors were shocked by the accident.

"To have people you see every day around end up dead, it's pretty sad," said Steven Gomez, the supervisor at a deli across the street. He said that he knew all the men, who ate at his place regularly.