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LOS ANGELES — A suspected drunken driver plowed into a group of around 100 bicyclists on a midnight ride, critically injuring one rider who was dragged under the car and leaving 10 others with lesser injuries, police said.
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The riders were struck by the driver shortly before 2 a.m. Thursday about 8 miles south of downtown Los Angeles.
"We were all just chilling right here ... she merges in and takes everybody out," one rider told RMG News.
Another rider estimated the car was traveling at more than 60 miles per hour. "I saw everybody flying towards me. Luckily I didn't get hit ... one of the guys got dragged by the car," he said.
The crash injured 11 riders, including one person who was hospitalized in critical condition but is expected to survive, said LAPD Officer Jacquelyn Abad.
Some bicyclists told KTTV Fox 11 that the woman driving the car appeared to be using a cell phone before the crash. They said she slowed down, then sped up and slammed into the group.
Television reports showed dozens of damaged bicycles as well as the car's smashed front end and shattered windshield.
The 27-year-old woman was booked for investigation of drunken driving. Her name was not immediately released.
The bikers belonged to "Midnight Ridazz," a Koreatown bicycling group that gets together for weekly midnight rides.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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