West Village Hit-and-Run Victim Recounts Traumatic Ordeal

Hit-and-Run Incident Details

• 🚗 A hit-and-run driver in a white Mercedes allegedly ran a red light and struck a bicyclist in the West Village.
• 💥 Witnesses reported the driver then reversed at high speed and fled the scene, narrowly missing the victim a second time.
• 🚲 The impact sent the victim's bicycle onto the sidewalk across the street, and the victim landed in a bike path.

Victim's Injuries and Recovery

• 🤕 The victim, Mong Jin Chong, suffered severe injuries including three broken bones in his Achilles tendon area, a mangled left leg, a battered face, and a cracked head resulting in a concussion.
• 🏥 Chong underwent 16 hours of surgery and faces three to four months before he can walk again, preventing him from working as a restaurant owner.
• 🧠 He experienced memory loss and only understood the extent of the incident after watching video footage.

Witness Accounts and Investigation

• 🚨 Witnesses described the driver as speeding and blowing through two red lights, showing no apparent concern after hitting the bicyclist.
• 📹 Police are using cell phone video and surveillance footage from The New School for their investigation.
• 🚫 As of the report, no arrests have been made.

Impact on the Victim

• 💔 The traumatic experience has led Chong to decide he is done riding his bicycle in the city.
• 🗣️ In an exclusive interview, Chong spoke out about the incident, expressing that he initially questioned if it was his fault but now believes the responsibility lies entirely with the driver.