New York DWI Driver Attacks Cop and EMT at Scene

Dennis Velez, 20, was drunk behind the wheel of his girlfriend's 2002 Toyota driving south on the roadway at 2:20 a.m. when he lost control of the car near Delancey Street, cops said.

He slammed into a livery cab, sending both cars flipping down the highway, cops and family said.

The accident left Velez partially thrown from the car and tossed his passenger, a friend whom relatives identified as Juan Sanabria, 26, out of the car, leaving him about 40 feet from the wreck, police said.

He was in serious condition last night at Bellevue Hospital. The cab's driver was also thrown from his car, and was in stable condition at Bellevue.

When emergency responders arrived, Velez bit off more than he could chew - chomping his teeth into the left forearm of the police sergeant who was trying to pull him from the wrecked car, cops said.

Velez also allegedly slapped a female EMT after he was put into the ambulance.

"He started freaking out when he saw Juan on the ground and just wanted to get to him," said Velez's sister, Reina Lopez, 28. "He was so nervous about him."

Lopez said she and her hot-tempered brother got into a fight earlier in the evening, which led to his alcohol-fueled joyride.

She also said Velez didn't have a driver's license, but would frequently drive his girlfriend's car.

Velez was charged with DWI, assaulting a police officer and driving without a license.