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10.01.2013

Man arrested in connection with motorcycle mob chase

Police are asking for the public's help identifying two bikers wanted for assault.


A motorcyclist brake-checks a Range Rover, gets hit. Bikers surround the SUV. The driver -- who's with his wife and 2-year-old daughter -- takes off, plowing through several motorcycle riders and sparking a crazy pursuit on the West Side Highway. Driver gets chased down, pulled out of his car and beaten in front of his family.

Police have arrested a motorcycle rider in connection with the crash that set off the whole thing: NYC Motorcyle Attack: Christopher Cruz, 28, arrested in connection with road rage incident involving SUV.

28-year-old Christopher Cruz, the guy who can be seen on video cutting off Alexian Lien's SUV at the start of the incident, was arrested for his role in the initial accident. He was charged with reckless endangerment, reckless driving, endangering the welfare of a child and menacing.

Twenty-eight-year-old Christopher Cruz, of Passaic, was charged with causing the initial crash and not for the assault. He was charged with reckless endangerment, reckless driving, menacing and endangering the welfare of a child.

He is believed to be the motorcyclist who cut off the Range Rover before he was rear-ended by the SUV in the crash that started the incident. Detectives said Cruz was charged because his erratic driving sparked the melee.

Cruz was treated for minor injuries, including lower back pain, and released.
No arrests have been made for the attack on Lien, in which he was dragged out of his vehicle, beaten and slashed on his face with a knife. Police are asking for the public's help in identifying two of the bikers, who are wanted for assault. The first suspect has a flag sticker of "Guyana" on the rear of the motorcycle. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

More here: Video shows bikers, driver clash after accident on Henry Hudson Parkway.