Metro

Out of control alleged drunk driver jumps curb and injures 5: witnesses

Police on the scene today in the East Village.

Police on the scene today in the East Village. (MaxButterworth/Splash News)

Today's scene of carnage and destruction after a car plowed into a deli while allegedly drag racing, witnesses say.

Today’s scene of carnage and destruction after a car plowed into a deli while allegedly drag racing, witnesses say. (MaxButterworth/Splash News)

Part of the destroyed deli where three workers were injured, including one seriously, after an alleged drunk driver plowed into the storefront.

Part of the destroyed deli where three workers were injured, including one seriously, after an alleged drunk driver plowed into the storefront. (MaxButterworth/Splash News)

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(Seth Gottfried)

An allegedly wasted driver racing another car in the East Village jumped a curb and injured five people when his car smashed into a deli and caused a fire hydrant to torpedo through the air and strike a Citi Bike rider, cops and witnesses said.

Shaun Martin, 32, of Queens, was charged with DWI when his white Nissan Altima lost control on Second Avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets and smashed into the East Village Grocery at 6:30 a.m., authorities said. Police also found hashish in his sock at the hospital, said NYPD Spokesman Paul Browne, adding that Martin was charged because he refused a Breathalyzer.

Cops are trying to determine how fast the car was going.

He was believed to be under the influence of either drugs or alcohol — or both, cops said.

A neighbor awoken by the crash said it sounded like “a massive explosion.”

“It sounded like a 10-car pile-up. I hopped out of bed and looked over the edge and it looked like carnage,” said Matt Leayr, 44.

A witness said the two cars appeared to be racing.

“I heard them, and I saw them race past,” said Alvaro Alvin. “There were two cars, they were racing, there was a black car behind a white car. They were being reckless together. They were weaving around [the other cars]. It just looked like it veered to the right [and the black car kept going].”

“[The car] just went on the sidewalk, and started destroying everything, just went out of control,” said a witness named Andrew, who declined to give his last name. “I saw people flying around. A lot of bicycles got destroyed.”

Three deli workers were injured, cops said. The female passenger in Martin’s car also suffered minor injuries.

The most seriously injured victim, who co-workers called Ali, was setting up an outdoor flower stand before he was mowed down. He and two other store employees were taken to Bellevue Hospital along with the Citi Bike rider, who was later released.

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“I could see the guy who works for the flower shop,” said Dan Bergal, 31. “He was laid out there. There was blood coming out of his head. His legs were sprawled out, they looked broken to me. He just got smashed.”

The other two employees and the biker were listed in stable condition at Bellevue.

Martin, who has prior arrests for DWI and cocaine possession, was in police custody at Bellevue hospital, where he was being treated for a cut on his head.

His female passenger suffered minor injuries.

Martin lives with his parents in Bayside, Queens and does roofing with his brother, neighbors said.

“I’ve known him his whole life. A very good kid,” Frank Mingione, 60, a neighbor said. “Never caused any trouble as far as I know. He’s a very hard worker. He’s always been a good person.”

“He’s very nice, a good kid. Very respectful,” said another neighbor who identified herself as Eleni. “He helps me with my grocery bags. I never see him drinking, you can tell.”