A Sunday evening ride turned into chaos when a motorcycle left the roadway and crashed into a crowd gathered inside a Brooklyn park, sending a dozen people to area hospitals.
According to the NYPD, 53-year-old Neisha Atkinson lost control of a three-wheeled Can-Am motorcycle around 6:30 p.m. while near Commodore Barry Park in Brooklyn. The motorcycle entered the park and struck multiple pedestrians attending a community event. (Gothamist)
Police say 12 people were injured, including the rider. Four pedestrians initially suffered critical injuries, though all victims were later reported to be in stable condition. The injured ranged in age from 36 to 73 years old. (Gothamist)
Authorities arrested Atkinson and charged her with reckless endangerment, reckless driving, failure to yield to pedestrians, and operating with an improper license. Investigators have not announced what caused her to lose control, and the crash remains under investigation. (Gothamist)
Incidents like this are extremely rare, but they serve as another reminder that even a momentary loss of control on a motorcycle can have devastating consequences—especially in areas where pedestrians are present.
We’ll update this story if investigators release additional details about what led to the crash.