Car slams into crowd in Fresh York s Times Square; one dead, twenty two hurt
Car slams into crowd in Fresh York’s Times Square; one dead, twenty two hurt
A car hit pedestrians in Times Square on Thursday, killing one person and injuring twenty two others.
Police secure an are near a car after it plunged into pedestrians in Times Square in Fresh York on May Eighteen, 2017. A speeding car struck pedestrians in Fresh York’s Times Square on. (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Pictures) (Photo: JEWEL SAMAD)
Fresh YORK – Fresh YORK – Chaos and bloodshed rocked crowded Times Square on Thursday when a car roared the wrong way up a one-way street and slammed into dozens of pedestrians, killing a woman and injuring twenty two people, authorities said.
The driver, Richard Rojas, was taken into custody and was tested for alcohol, police said. Photos from the scene displayed numerous victims on the ground near the maroon Honda sedan, which came to rest on two wheels, wedged up against a light pole and 3-feet-tall metal “bollard” barriers.
“There is no indication that this was an act of terrorism,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said. “That being said, we are reinforcing key locations around the city with our anti-terror units of NYPD.”
De Blasio lauded the quick efforts of police, fire and emergency medical teams. But he added: “It’s a harsh day for Fresh York City.”
Rojas, 26, is a Bronx resident, U.S. citizen and Navy veteran, the mayor said. NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill said Rojas had two prior DUI arrests.
Fresh York Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said four people were critically injured but were expected to get through. Three other people suffered injuries considered serious, and fifteen others “less serious” injuries, he said. Police and fire officials closed off an area of several blocks.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer said President Trump was made aware of the incident.
The crash took place shortly before noon. Minutes later, the fire department tweeted: “#FDNY is on scene at forty five St/ Broadway motor vehicle accident. We have reports of pedestrians struck”
Bicycle courier Julio Sanchez Rivera, 20, told USA TODAY he was making his very first delivery of the day when he heard a car engine revving. He turned in time to see the car roaring up the street.
“He’s lightly, very likely going over forty (mph),” Rivera said. “The only thing I see is this poor woman, mid-air, getting hit by a car and the car still going.”
The aftermath was “pretty gory,” the Queens resident said.
“I spotted streaks of, I don`t know if it was blood, I don`t know liquids, but it didn`t seem good,” he said. “This poor woman was bleeding from her head, lounging down. There were clothes, there were footwear everywhere. It was a pretty scary scene.»
Thoughts and prayers to loved ones and neighbors in the theatre district in light of this morning’s car crash. So scary.
The stainless steel bollards eventually stopped the car and the madness. More than two hundred of them were installed last year in partnership with city and Times Square officials to reduce pedestrian injuries and prevent unintentional or terrorist vehicle “incursions,” according to bollard maker Calpipe Security Bollards.
Thursday was the best day of the year so far, with temperatures reaching a record of ninety one degrees. A block from the scene people were talking about the crash, attempting to lump together what happened. But Fresh Yorkers and tourists also continued going about their business, coming in shops and walking to and from lunch appointments.
Andrea Stalker, 41, said she doesn’t recall ever eyeing eyeing anything like this tragedy before. From Manhattan, Stalker was at a friend’s house nearby when the crash occurred. She doesn’t think the incident will switch her daily routine.
«I`m the area all the time,” she said. “I would be careful, but it`s not going to affect anything.»
The crash drew quick reactions of compassion on Twitter.
“My heart goes out to the family who lost a loved one and those injured in Times Square crash,” tweeted Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-NY. “Thank you to NYFD and NYPD for swift response”
“Thoughts and prayers to loved ones and neighbors in the theatre district in light of this morning’s car crash,” tweeted Lin-Manuel Miranda, the actor-playwright-composer who created Hamilton. “So scary.”
Contributing: Laura Petrecca; Matthew Diebel