In re the Arbitration Between Nationwide Insurance & Bellreng

—Order unanimously reversed on the law without costs, petition dismissed and cross petition granted. Memorandum: Supreme Court erred in granting the petition seeking a permanent stay of arbitration. Respondent was injured in a hit-and-run accident while spraying water on asbestos as part of his employment. Respondent was using a hose that was stretched across a road, and a taxicab driven by an unidentified driver made contact with the hose, pulling respondent into a utility pole. Contrary to petitioner’s contention, the requisite “physical contact” occurred where, as here, “the accident…