BROOKLYN, NY – A group of local motorcycle riders is being hailed as heroes after intervening to stop a drifting car, rescuing a frightened toddler, and aiding two unconscious adults.
Discovery at Beverly Road and Kings Highway
The incident occurred at the intersection of Beverly Road and Kings Highway in Brooklyn. Approximately a dozen riders noticed a vehicle slowly crossing over into oncoming traffic. Upon pulling over to investigate, they discovered a 34-year-old driver and an adult female passenger both unresponsive in the front seats.
Strapped in the back seat was a frightened three-year-old child.
The riders immediately sprang into action, checking the pulses of the adults while safely removing the toddler from the vehicle and handing her to a nearby bystander.
Driver Arrested and Charged
According to the NYPD, the driver was later identified as Joseph Santanelli. Upon regaining consciousness after nearly nine minutes, Santanelli reportedly became combative with first responders at the scene.
Santanelli now faces five criminal charges, including:
- Aggravated DWI (indicating a blood alcohol concentration of 0.18 or higher)
- Acting in a manner injurious to a child under 17
The female passenger has not been charged, and the child was safely reunited with her mother, who was not present in the vehicle during the incident.
Viral Footage Prompts Community Action
The entire rescue was captured via smart glasses worn by one of the riders, named Chad. The footage quickly went viral on Instagram, amassing over 4.5 million views. Chad stated that the group, many of whom are fathers, simply “jumped into daddy mode” to protect the child.
Following the incident, Brooklyn Councilwoman Darlene Mealy’s office met with the motorcycle group to provide them with Narcan, an opioid overdose reversal medication. The riders are scheduled to undergo formal training later this month to learn how to administer the treatment during future roadside emergencies.
