Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Backhoe On BMW Boondoggle Was Totally Just An Accident
By
Garth Johnston
Published Oct 23, 2012
Modified Oct 23, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Garth Johnston
Published Oct 23, 2012
Modified Oct 23, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
This weekend we all laughed at the above photo of a John Deere backhoe seemingly about to scoop up a parked BMW on the corner of Mott and Bleecker Streets. But the question remained, how did it get there? By accident, construction workers swear.
According to workers on the scene yesterday the heavy-duty piece of equipment ran out of juice this weekend and couldn't be moved until a generator was brought in to restart her. "It was just an accident," a worker told the Post.
So who is going to pay for the dent in the car? Contractor John P. Picone Inc.—though they're not quite ready to admit it was their fault. "I have an operator who said the car wasn’t there when he left it, and a driver who said the excavator wasn’t there when he parked it," JPP Vice President Robert Wessels said. "The car’s owner has already been in contact with our insurance, with our risk manager. We’ve agreed to get his car repaired. We’re paying for it."
Chris Robbins/Gothamist
Tagged
bmw
cars
construction zone
manhattan
parking
Garth Johnston
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Person found dead with stab wounds in Queens building, NYPD says
Police hadn't yet named and suspects or identified the victim Friday.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Nov 6, 2026 at 8:34 p.m. ET
Amtrak's Penn Station plan could funnel taxpayer money to new venue for James Dolan
The federal government's plan to rebuild Penn Station would require the purchase of a theater attached to the west side of Madison Square Garden.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
News
Amtrak's Penn Station plan could funnel taxpayer money to new venue for James Dolan
The federal government's plan to rebuild Penn Station would require the purchase of a theater attached to the west side of Madison Square Garden.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Intoxicated Queens driver killed baby after running stop sign, indictment says
By
Giulia Heyward
Man arrested in NYC on accusations of sexual assault, rape on Cape Cod, officials said
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Service upgrade coming to On The Way: An hour-long radio show on all things NYC transit
By
Stephen Nessen
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .