It is an unbelievable sight. But what happened after it was over is even more incredible. And both speak volumes about the nature of humanity - or a lack of it.

It took place last Friday on a busy street in Hartford, Connecticut as Angel Arce Torres was crossing a busy thoroughfare. The 78-year-old had just bought some milk at a local grocery store when disaster struck

From out of nowhere, a Toyota chasing a Honda races towards him, causing the latter vehicle to veer out of its lane and straight toward the senior.

It hits him at full speed.

He bounces off the hood and then lies prone on the asphalt, not moving, as the two cars disappear. It was the height of rush hour, 5:45pm.

The entire scenario was caught on tape by a security camera that recorded every painful and terror-filled moment with its unblinking eye (top left). But what appears to have taken place immediately afterwards is even more disturbing.

Torres remained prone and unmoving on the ground as at least nine cars zoomed past him without anyone stopping.

And despite one passerby after another curiously looking on at the scene, and a few approaching Torres on the street, no one appears to be calling 911 and many just keep on walking.

It took a police officer on his way to an unrelated call to stop and help the badly injured man and contact paramedics.  By then, nearly two precious minutes had gone by.

The incident has created a great deal of soul searching in the city, with many wondering where a sense of decency went in a world where too many are too busy to care about a life or death situation.

The local police chief took the unusual step of releasing the highly disturbing footage in the hopes someone will recognize the car that hit the senior. But he also had a message for those he pledged to serve and protect. "We have no regard for each other," condemned Daryl Roberts on Wednesday.

But city officials backtracked somewhat 24 hours later, suggesting several 911 calls did come in right after the accident and that the man now fighting for his life in hospital received as close to immediate medical attention as possible.

Residents don't buy it. "Like a dog they left him there," a visibly angry 37-year-old Jose Cordero condemns.

A grammatically incorrect but still stunningly accurate Robert Luna seconds that emotion. "Nobody did nothing," he complains.

Why didn't they? One of those witnesses has come forward to explain his actions - or lack of them. Bryant Hayre claims he didn't feel comfortable helping the victim, because he was bleeding and conscious and he wasn't qualified to act.

Torres's son is ready to forgive but not forget, provided someone turns in the callous drivers responsible for the tragedy. "My father is fighting for his life," Angel Arce pleads.

It's the second shock for the city in a week. On Monday no less a person than the town's former deputy mayor was beaten and robbed on his way to breakfast. He's still in hospital and could be facing brain surgery due to the savage nature of the attack.

"There was a time they would have helped that man across the street. Now they mug and assault him," a disgusted Chief Roberts sighs.

"Anything goes."