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Updated: What Happened Here? Don’t Ask the NYPD

"What I know at this point is they don't know."

August 19, 2023 | 6:15 AM
in ABSURDITY, NEWS, OUTDOORS
29
Photograph by Stacey Halper.

By Carol Tannenhauser

Major General Franz Sigel hasn’t seen this much action since he joined the Union army during the Civil War.

The Rag has no idea what happened here at the top of the staircase where West 106th Street meets Riverside Drive. Stacey Halper sent the above photo, confirming the location. David Adelman took the photo below at 6:10 a.m., so we know whatever happened did so before then. All the SUV’s windows are smashed, and it seems to have taken out a handrail. Was it rolled there? We called the police several times, but they have no information (though we can see that they were there.)

Anybody out there know anything? We’ll update if and when we do.

Update, August 19, 6:15 a.m.: The vehicle is a rental, a 2002 black Jeep Cherokee, “possibly out of Massachusetts,” an NYPD spokesman told WSR on Saturday morning. It was found “unattended with damage” after a 911 call was received shortly before 6 a.m. on Friday, August 18. “There were no vics or anything else reported,” the officer said. “The Parks department was called and the vehicle was towed.”

When asked about the cars’ smashed windows, the officer noted that it had “struck a railing and the stanchions supporting it. There’s plausibility and possibility,” he said. “What I know at this point is they don’t know. There will be further investigation.”

Check out the new photo below. We’ll update when more is known.

Photograph by David Adelman.
Photograph by Spencer Nelson.

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29 Comments
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Josh
Josh
2 years ago

Shortcut to NJ?

38
Reply
And who's job is this?
And who's job is this?
2 years ago

What happened? Easy. Drivers are OUT OF CONTROL and there is no enforcement.

24
Reply
Robert
Robert
2 years ago
Reply to  And who's job is this?

Actually, that is 100 precent wrong. The 24 precinct has been doing a major crackdown on electric bikes/scoters as well as cars. Record numbers of summons have been given out.
I would suggest you and all attend the next monthly meeting with the precinct command Its open to public with info and Q & A. Its 7pm at the Bloomingdale Library at 151 West 100th street. It will be Wednesday Sept 20th

21
Reply
A.G
A.G
2 years ago
Reply to  Robert

the conversation just always branches out into e scooters. wow . how do you go from this photo to scooters and bikes ? it seems like readers of the west side rag really have something against scooters that no matter what happens they relay the conversation back to e scooters and bikes.

0
Reply
good humor
good humor
2 years ago
Reply to  Robert

Stand on 96th and broadeay whenever the sun is up for 10 minutes. At least 10 blown lights i guarantee it.

I’m thinking of setting up a webcam.

6
Reply
Seen It All
Seen It All
2 years ago

Someone tried to make a left turn where there’s no road. Probably driving under the influence, they abandoned the car. Or maybe it was stolen.

16
Reply
Cato
Cato
2 years ago

Practicing alternate routes for congestion pricing.

62
Reply
BobA
BobA
2 years ago
Reply to  Cato

Thanks–that comment made my day!!

5
Reply
L.K.
L.K.
2 years ago
Reply to  Cato

🤣🤣🤣

3
Reply
Liz G
Liz G
2 years ago

Ha! Please update or write another post when you find out, I’m nosey and I’d like to know. Stolen car joy ride seems likely to me.

9
Reply
Jodie
Jodie
2 years ago
Reply to  Liz G

It was a rental, so not stolen. Has to be DUI. No one can drive that badly! 😂

1
Reply
Virvir
Virvir
2 years ago

Didn’t agree with the outcome the Civil War?

12
Reply
Doron Steger
Doron Steger
2 years ago

Followed GPS instructionns to get to Riverside Drive

36
Reply
oldtimer
oldtimer
2 years ago

Good parking spot until Monday.

36
Reply
Chris
Chris
2 years ago

They could not find parking because of bike lanes and food shanties

12
Reply
Peter
Peter
2 years ago

Same driver as ten years ago, still trying to get to New Jersey? https://www.westsiderag.com/2013/05/01/gps-brain-fail-driver-car-ends-up-stuck-on-riverside-park-stairs

12
Reply
Will
Will
2 years ago

Someone stole a car, got away, not arrested.

5
Reply
GoRangers
GoRangers
2 years ago

Just a practice run before driving down the Spanish Steps in Rome.

9
Reply
Joey
Joey
2 years ago

Not the first time and won’t be the last time

1
Reply
Stanley
Stanley
2 years ago

Just following the GPS.

1
Reply
Boris
Boris
2 years ago

The investigation should be undertaken one step at a time.

10
Reply
Tom
Tom
2 years ago
Reply to  Boris

Hahaha! Good one!

0
Reply
Bart
Bart
2 years ago

Small point, but that Jeep isn’t a 2002 model. Maybe this was a typo but it more likely is a 2022 or 2023.

0
Reply
West Side Rag
Author
West Side Rag
2 years ago
Reply to  Bart

The police said 2002, but you could be right.

0
Reply
Sarah
Sarah
2 years ago

If I’d smashed up my car in such a silly way, I’d probably walk away like Kramer walking away from the out-of-control rickshaw in that episode of Seinfeld.

1
Reply
Ralph Spielman
Ralph Spielman
2 years ago

If this was a rental car, the police should already have the info as to which rental company owns the car and who were the actual drivers.

We’ve all heard stories about people driving over the cliff into the ocean because the GPS told them to do that, Maybe this is a similar case?

1
Reply
BHR
BHR
2 years ago

Great expression on the policeman’s face in the next to last photo!

1
Reply
Tom
Tom
2 years ago

A Massachusetts driver?

0
Reply
Lizzie
Lizzie
2 years ago

Whatever the cause, I hope their insurance is made to pay for the damage! That handrail will doubtless go unrepaired otherwise. Or maybe anyway,

0
Reply

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