On Friday night at the intersection of Kings Highway and Beverly Road in Brooklyn, a group of bikers suddenly went from weekend riders to first responders. They rushed over to a stopped car and pulled an unconscious driver, a passenger and a small child out of the vehicle before emergency crews got to the scene. Riders said they called 911 and focused on keeping the child calm while they waited for medical help. The child was later reported unharmed, and both adults were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
One of the riders had a head-mounted camera rolling the whole time, capturing the frantic rescue. The biker who filmed the clip said the child's mother later reached out to thank him and confirm that her child was OK, as reported by News12 New York. That report states that bikers pulled the child from the vehicle and called 911 while bystanders and emergency responders worked to secure the scene. FDNY personnel then removed both adults from the front seats, administered Narcan and took them to Brookdale Hospital, according to the same account.
Police identify driver, file charges
Police said the driver is 34-year-old Joseph Santanelli, and that he has been charged with aggravated DWI and acting in a manner injurious to a child under 17, per News12 New York. Authorities say the investigation is still active as prosecutors review the evidence and the video footage.
How the law treats child passengers
New York's Leandra's Law and related Vehicle and Traffic statutes significantly raise the stakes when a child is in the car. A DWI with a child in the vehicle can be elevated to a class E felony and can trigger mandatory outcomes such as ignition interlock requirements, according to a New York courts memorandum that outlines the law. Prosecutors often point to the presence of a child as an aggravating factor that can increase potential penalties even on a first DWI arrest, per New York courts.
What comes next
Police and prosecutors are expected to keep reviewing the footage and other evidence as the case moves through the local court system. The bikers said they are simply relieved the child was not hurt and hope the video helps investigators, while also serving as a very blunt reminder about the risks of getting behind the wheel with a child on board.
