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Bicyclist crushed under bus on Northern Boulevard

By Alexander Dworkowitz

A man riding a bike down Northern Boulevard was critically injured Tuesday afternoon when he fell underneath the front wheel of a city bus pulling into a stop near 157th Street in Flushing.

With the front right tire on top of his stomach, the man screamed for his life as police used a jack to lift up the bus and free him, witnesses said.

“He was screaming in Spanish, ‘I’m going to die, I’m going to die,’” said Crystal Defelice, who saw the accident occur right in front of her as she was walking down Northern Boulevard with friends.

The man, who police said is in his 20s, was rushed from the scene of the accident, between 156th and 157th Street on Northern Boulevard to New York Hospital Medical Center Queens in critical condition, police said.

The man was riding his red bicycle east on the westbound side of Northern Boulevard when he was caught underneath the bus, which was heading west at about 3:30 p.m., police said.

No one was arrested or charged in connection with the incident, police said.

The accident occurred right at a stop for the Q13 and Q28 buses in front of a line of stores that include a Korean bakery and a Taekwondo school.

Several police vehicles and ambulances blocked half of the busy street, preventing traffic from getting by as authorities investigated.

For about 10 minutes, police worked to extricate the man from underneath the wheel, witnesses said.

“They lifted the bus right up,” said Bob Dalessandro, who pulled over from his car when he saw the accident. “They did a fantastic job getting him out.”

Witnesses were amazed at the man’s ability to breathe under the weight of the bus.

“He was strong,” said Monica Lohay. “He was moving, like he was trying to get out.”

As police worked to help the man, the driver of the bus watched, telling him not to move, witnesses said.

“He was like, “Stay still, stay still,’” Defelice said. “He was crying.”

Reach reporter Alexander Dworkowitz by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300 Ext. 141.