BOSTON — Boston’s drug crisis exploded into horror over the weekend when a 25-year-old Southie woman mowed down a pedestrian in the South Bay Mall parking lot — her SUV littered with dirty needles.

Authorities say Ariella Bezan slammed her Ford Explorer in reverse on Saturday evening, crushing a 42-year-old woman under the wheels while stunned families screamed for help. One bystander even jumped in front of the SUV to stop Bezan from running the victim over again.

When police got there, they found Bezan hysterical, stumbling, and covered in track marks. Inside the Explorer was a grim symbol of Boston’s spiraling crisis: a red handbag stuffed with 15 used needles and drug gear tossed by the pedals.

This wasn’t just a crash — it was a snapshot of a city unraveling. Parents out shopping were forced to watch chaos unfold that could have ended in tragedy.

Bezan was arraigned this week on charges of operating under the influence of drugs causing serious bodily injury and negligent operation. Judge Margaret Alberston set bail at just $1,500 and ordered her into drug treatment. She’s due back in court September 24.

District Attorney Kevin Hayden said: “I wish the victim in this case a full and speedy recovery and I am grateful for the witnesses who provided important information on what happened, and in particular the witness who placed himself in front of the car to prevent further injury, or worse, to the victim.”

But as cases like this pile up, many residents point the finger at Mayor Michelle Wu — accusing her of presiding over a city where needles are everywhere, addicts run wild, and families no longer feel safe in malls, parks, or neighborhoods. Wu insists Boston is “America’s safest major city,” but for parents dodging needles in playgrounds and drivers high behind the wheel, that claim is looking more and more like a punchline.

And the timing couldn’t be sharper: Boston’s preliminary election is Tuesday, a vote many insiders say is even more important than the general. For residents furious at what the city has become, it’s their first real chance to demand change at the ballot box.