Bikers rallied outside a New York City hospital in support of a cyclist who was severely injured in Sunday's chase of an SUV on the West Side Highway.

Motorcyclists at start of ride before chasing SUV
Motorcyclists at start of ride before chasing SUV (YouTube)
loading...

Arriving with an escort from the NYPD motorcycle unit, around 100 bikers gathered outside St. Luke's Hospital where Edwin Mieses is recovering from injuries that may leave him paralyzed.

WNBC reports that many of the bikers would not identify what group they were part of but wanted to defend the image presented of motorcycle riders following the incident. "We're not savages, we're not animals," one ride told the television station. "We're just average people that love to ride."

Others defended Mieses as trying to end the incident."A man got ran over. A man got paralyzed. He's in this hospital. He's in a coma. It wasn't because he was trying to hurt anybody, it wasn't because he's an evil person. It was because he tried to extinguish a situation that could have got worse, and did become worse," Jose, one of Mieses' supporters told WABC TV.

A motorcycle pulls in front of Range Rover
A motorcycle pulls in front of Range Rover (YouTube)
loading...

As the investigation continues into the incident in which dozens of motorcycles chased an SUV following a "bumping" and then dragged the driver out of the car when the chase ended in Harlem in front of his wife and 2-year-old child.  WNBC reports that police have searched the home of the rider who recorded the video on a camera  built into his helmet.

Christopher Cruz of Passaic was charged Wednesday with reckless driving and unlawful imprisonment. His bail was set at $1,500 cash.

Prosecutors have said  they intend to take the case against Cruz to a grand jury, a sign that more serious charges are likely.

Cruz is believed to be the rider who pulled in front of the Range Rover that was chased and did a sudden "brake check" causing the driver, Alexian Lien, 33, of New York, to tap Cruz's motorcycle.

His attorney says Cruz denies the allegation.


The Associated Press contributed to this report

More From Beach Radio