wabc's josh einiger has more. >> reporter: in mere moments, this quiet holiday afternoon was consumed by chaos and carnage. >> honestly the gruesomest thing you've ever seen. >> reporter: after an out-of-control cab launched onto the sidewalk mowing down pedestrians, their mangled bodies pinned underneath. >> a remarkable scene took place. about 15 to 20 new yorkers attempted to pick that cab off these women. >> there was no brake marks on the ground. >> reporter: marcus was among the crowd of new yorkers seen here working together to free one of the women pinned by the cab. both tourists, they were suffering grievous injuries. >> the lady that was in the front of the car, that lady was really, really under the car. even though maybe we started moving it, but definitely wasn't a one-man job. there was a team and thank god for those people. >> reporter: police say the cab driver had been turning and did have the right of way when a man on this city bike rode into his path causing a collision. cops believe the cabbie then panicked and hit the gas instead of the brake sending the taxi ro