Man gets beat, stumbles into traffic after asking for cigarette in Queens

A man remains in critical condition on Sunday after police said a gang of six men last seen in Queens beat him on Saturday and forced him into oncoming traffic.

Investigators said the victim, who was only identified as a 23-year-old man, was walking in front of El Dorado Sports Lounge on Liberty Avenue in South Richmond Hill at around 4:15 a.m.

He came across a group of six men standing out front and approached them to ask if he could bum a cigarette from anyone in the group.

Authorities said the men ignored the man, who officers said persisted and kept asking for a loose cigarette.

That’s when cops said the six men responded in force and began to assault him.

At some point after the attack, police said, the victim was fazed and stumbled into Liberty Avenue and in front of a black Toyota.

The Toyota struck him and left the scene, cops added, but came eventually returned to the corner of Liberty and 109th Street.

Paramedics rushed the victim to Jamaica Hospital Center and arrested the Toyota’s driver, 23-year-old Emir Zulifqar of Brooklyn for running a red light and leaving the scene.

However, investigator still want to track down the six men who allegedly beat the man before the car struck him.

Police ask that anyone with information about the attack or the suspects confidentially call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS or text their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.