.| UrbanNerd |.

It is still incomprehensible to me that someone did this on purpose. As I write this my right hand is in a temporary cast while I await surgery on a Bennets fracture to my thumb. (this means it is both broken and dislocated at its base) Additionally my left hip and knee are very banged up; although not broken, I am unable to walk.

Let me explain why I am in this condition. Yesterday while coming home via the Holland Tunnel, an irate road rage driver was following me very closely through the tunnel. Of course he was driving an SUV, black Jeep either Laredo or Cherokee, late 90′s early 00′s model. After the merge into the tunnel I ended up in front of him (I was riding my Vespa). He followed me closely and obviously wanted to pass. As soon as I got out of the tunnel I slowed down and pulled to the right to let him pass. This was obviously not good enough for this criminal with no regard for life. He sped up and purposely clipped me. I know this was purposeful because he then sped away.

Luckily there were plenty of good Samaritans around. One approached me while calling 911 to make sure I was OK. Another was following the driver in question stopped and told the police what he thought the plate number was. From what I could hear while lying on the ground being attended to by the E. M. T’s the plate number in question was something similar to New Jersey NNV-308 (he could have said MN or MM, and he was unsure if it was a V or Y). I then overheard the police officer say that the plate did not match, so it must have been a partial plate. I’ve not yet gotten the police report, but I am concerned that the police officer did not pursue trying to figure out what the full plate was. I am also concerned that he may not have written down the name and contact information of the eyewitness. The police (Port Authority) only spoke to me briefly and I was given information on where to get the report and pick up my bike. Unfortunately I can only mail for the report I cannot go one person to pick it up. I am unsure what condition the bike is in, I know it’s in one piece, but I heard the officer say something about a leak of some sort. I am going to have the bike towed to scooters originali once I’m able to go to the pound.

I am left with a number of questions, perhaps some of you reading this website may be able to help. What do you believe my best recourse should be? Do any of you know of a good website to use that would allow me to try various license plate combinations to look up this license plate? Should the police have been more vigilant in trying to track down this person? It seemed to me that they were just talking this up to another hit and run. What if the police officer did not even write down the partial plate number in the report? If I find out which correct plate number is by doing online searches can I still pursue something against the driver? Can’t the Port Authority use the cameras from the tunnel to identify this driver? I have left a message for my attorney, will this be the only way that I can pursue this matter and get a response from the Port Authority police?

By the way, lest you think that I typed this entire message with my left hand only, I installed the basic dictation software that comes with Microsoft office. I may upgrade to the Dragon naturally speaking program.

I will update with pictures and further developments as I get them.

Follow ups: Part 2, Part 3, Getting Back to Things, Accident Update, Oh The Pain