More Video: Times Square Movie Car Crash Up Close

The two pedestrians struck by an out-of-control Ferrari during a Times Square car chase for the latest Nic Cage abomination The Sorcerer's Apprentice (a live-action adaptation of part of Fantasia) are talking to the press about the incident, and the Post has obtained better video, shot from the sidewalk where the stunt driver crashed into the Sbarro.

Though Seventh Avenue was closed to traffic in Times Square on Sunday night for the production, the sidewalks were open, and that's where 22-year-old Bangladeshi immigrant Salma Sheuly had her brush with death. She tells the Post she owes her life to her co-worker at the Phantom of Broadway gift shop: "The car hit me in my right thigh, and I fell down. If my friend didn't pull me back, I would have been in front of the car. God saved me—that's why he sent me an angel."

Mamadou Babaou, a 24-year-old Senegalese immigrant, was also injured when a pole knocked over by the Ferrari fell on him, but police sources tell Newsday that two witnesses saw him throw himself to the ground after the pole was struck, suggesting he may be faking his head injury. Babaou says, "I hear a lot of sound[s] in my head and my back is killing me. I was thinking I was dying. It was crazy. I passed out....I'd like to talk to [the movie producers] to tell them to be more careful, to watch what they're doing." Disney has issued a statement saying "all safety regulations were followed," but has not apologized for the accident, nor for perpetuating the career of Nicolas Cage.

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By John Del Signore in News on May 5, 2009 10:37 AM

Comments [rss]

Kingpin

latest Nic Cage abomination...nor for perpetuating the career of Nicolas Cage

Classy.

"And in other news, writer John Del Signore continues to interject his unneccesary and banal attempts at humor by slagging Nick Cage".

Chilkin Bilskits

Why won't this hipster grifter story go away? I see what you're doing here, Gothamist. The Ferrari (hotdog) going down 7th Ave. (hallway). Sbarro represents Williamsburg and the falling pole the many victims of Kari Ferrell. Obviously the fradulent Senegalese immigrant is Kari herself. It's all so thinly veiled.

Global Wombat

My mind is blown, man.

Tower18

Also, why was a high-speed chase done in the rain?

adgolds

How does a live action version of part of freakin' Fantasia need to involve a Ferrari racing through Times Square?

Politburo

I had the same question.. but I don't think I want to know the answer.

thekillertouch

For all the horrible movies he has done, he still has Raising Arizona to save him a little bit.

dr zippy

and he was quite good in Valley Girl, too.

FrankMartin

Yeah but it turns out in both those movies he wasn't actually acting, he thought he was on a reality game show.

Steven

Why the street and sidewalks were not closed down for the movie shoot?

grandeur

In many (not all) cases it is illegal to block foot traffic. You can put someone there to suggest not walking, but in most sets are open to traffic. I assume only the biggest hollywood movies get this privilege.

The city really tries to adjust the shooting schedule so they only shoot when there is the least amount of traffic. i.e. to their defense, they shot on a rainy sunday night, where there would not be many people walking in times square.

ninrvana

Nic Cage is awesome precisely because he stars in ridiculous movies like this. They're good for a laugh, especially because people seem to take them as serious movies.

Not closing off the sidewalks and running people over, however, not good for a laugh. Stupid Disney.

Kreo

well disney did not bother closing sidewalks because at that time of night it is only immigrants (probably illegal) walking the streets. 100% immigrant hit ratio is impressive :)

citizenerased

Look at 23-24 seconds the guy totally takes a dive. The pole hits the ground first, not him. Then he's rolling round holding his head.

valeriob

It actually looks like it struck his front leg mid-stride and took him down. Can't be too sure, need better quality.

Rocknrope

...two witnesses saw him throw himself to the ground after the pole was struck, suggesting he may be faking his head injury.

I don't know about you all, but it looks to me like there's a very real light pole crushing the dude's very real leg.