A drunken driver stabbed a rookie police officer last night after nearly killing a Catholic nun in Queens, police officials said.

The suspect, Joseph Leonardi, 50, was driving his car the wrong way along 83rd Street in the Ozone Park section of Queens when his vehicle, a Buick, spun out of control, police said. The car hopped onto the sidewalk and Mr. Leonardi was headed for a collision with a Catholic nun before a Samaritan pushed her out of the way, police said.

The vehicle crashed into a brick wall a short distance from a Catholic church, police said.

Five witnesses approached the car in an attempt to subdue Mr. Leonardi, police said, but climbed out of the vehicle and took flight toward 159th Avenue.

One of the witnesses chased after Mr. Leonardi, police said.

Police were called to the scene, and two officers in a patrol car caught up with Mr. Leonardi on 159th Avenue, where he was waiving a steak knife with a wooden handle at the witness, police said.

The officers rushed to the aid of the witness, police said. One of the officers, Stuart Ingram, 22, a rookie on the force, struck Mr. Leonardi in the arm with an expandable police baton, but was unable to dislodge the weapon from his hands, police said.

Mr. Leonardi then lunged for the officer’s chest, police said. The blade connected with Mr. Ingram’s metal police shield and snapped into pieces, police said.

Officers and the witness took Mr. Leonardi to the ground, police said. He was arrested and taken to the 106th precinct.

Mr. Ingram sustained a minor hand injury, but the shield wasn’t damaged.

“I guess it will have a little sentimental value to it,” Mr. Ingram said about the shield

Mr. Leonardi will likely get charged with attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment, and driving under the influence, police said.