21 People Hurt as Driver Rams Car Into Crowd

BOSTON —  A man trying to drive away from a New Year’s fireworks display accompanied by his pregnant girlfriend, rammed his car into a crowd, injuring 21 people, police said. Three people were hospitalized in fair condition.

Antoinette Labord, who is 6 1/2 months’ pregnant, said she and her boyfriend were attacked by the mob as they tried to leave the crowded waterfront in their car. She said they hit the pedestrians only because they were trying to flee.

Anthony Brooks, 26, of Malden, faces multiple charges of assault with intent to murder, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, Police Sgt. John Greland said.

Brooks, who was held for arraignment today, was not drunk, but he did not have a license to drive, Greland said.

“He made statements to the fact he was going to drive over these people and that’s exactly what he did,” Greland said. “He drove right into the crowd and he floored it.”

Of the 21 people injured, three were reported in fair condition at Massachusetts General Hospital, one with a crushed pelvis, one with a broken leg and another with burns.

Labord was taken to the maternity ward at New England Medical Center with a bloody nose.

Police said Brooks put the car into reverse and ran over a person, pinning him under a wheel. Brooks then put the car into drive and ran into the other people, police said.

Police arrived to find enraged bystanders trying to tear Brooks from his car. The windows in the car were smashed by the crowd, police said.