1 person dead, twenty two injured after vehicle strikes pedestrians in Fresh York's Times Square
A vehicle struck pedestrians on a sidewalk in Fresh York City’s Times Square, what is a strenuously trafficked area, on Thursday afternoon, killing one individual.
The driver, 26-year-old Richard Rojas from the city’s Bronx borough, was charged late Thursday with 2nd degree murder, twenty counts of attempted murder, and five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, police said.
Preliminary reports had indicated the incident was not terror related. Police did not instantly release the cause of the crash, but law enforcement sources tell NBC News that Rojas claims he heard voices, and investigators are looking into the possibility it was a deliberate act.
The Fire Department of Fresh York has confirmed that in addition to the one woman died in the crash, there were twenty two injuries on the scene.
Police also confirmed the person who was killed was 18-year-old Alyssa Elsman of Portage, Michigan. Elsman’s 13-year-old sister was also injured in the incident, police said.
One witness posted a photo of the scene to Twitter instantaneously, where numerous bods were seen fallen on the pavement.
Local news outlets say Rojas has a history of DWI arrests and license suspensions.
His speeding car reportedly hopped a curb on Thursday, and photos showcase the smoking vehicle on the sidewalk. This happened around lunch time, where tourists and employees typically flood the streets.
Witnesses told Thomson Reuters, which is headquartered nearby, that the motorist drove a crimson Honda sedan against traffic. The car crashed into a pole and came to rest at 45th Street and Broadway before police took the driver away.
Numerous people from their social media accounts were reporting observing injured individuals carried away on stretchers.
Live traffic cameras demonstrated an escalated emergency response in the area; at least five fire trucks blocked off the intersection instantaneously near the scene, and a line of police cars blocked off traffic near Times Square’s TKTS booth.
Press Secretary Sean Spicer tweeted that President Donald Trump had been made aware of the situation, as investigations about the suspect were ongoing.
Fresh York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Fresh York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio arrived on the scene shortly after and held a briefing with the media in Times Square.
After walking through Times Square, Governor Cuomo issued a statement, telling: "Today’s events at Times Square were nothing brief of horrific. I was briefed at the scene by Commissioner O’Neill and witnessed firsthand the professionalism and diligence of Fresh York’s very first responders. As facts proceed to emerge, my heart goes out to the victims of this terrible tragedy, as well as their families."
—NBC News, Reuters and NBC Fresh York contributed to this report.
1 person dead, twenty two injured after vehicle strikes pedestrians in Fresh York s Times Square
1 person dead, twenty two injured after vehicle strikes pedestrians in Fresh York's Times Square
A vehicle struck pedestrians on a sidewalk in Fresh York City’s Times Square, what is a strongly trafficked area, on Thursday afternoon, killing one individual.
The driver, 26-year-old Richard Rojas from the city’s Bronx borough, was charged late Thursday with 2nd degree murder, twenty counts of attempted murder, and five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, police said.
Preliminary reports had indicated the incident was not terror related. Police did not instantly release the cause of the crash, but law enforcement sources tell NBC News that Rojas claims he heard voices, and investigators are looking into the possibility it was a deliberate act.
The Fire Department of Fresh York has confirmed that in addition to the one woman died in the crash, there were twenty two injuries on the scene.
Police also confirmed the person who was killed was 18-year-old Alyssa Elsman of Portage, Michigan. Elsman’s 13-year-old sister was also injured in the incident, police said.
One witness posted a photo of the scene to Twitter instantaneously, where numerous figures were seen fallen on the pavement.
Local news outlets say Rojas has a history of DWI arrests and license suspensions.
His speeding car reportedly leaped a curb on Thursday, and photos display the smoking vehicle on the sidewalk. This happened around lunch time, where tourists and employees typically flood the streets.
Witnesses told Thomson Reuters, which is headquartered nearby, that the motorist drove a crimson Honda sedan against traffic. The car crashed into a pole and came to rest at 45th Street and Broadway before police took the driver away.
Numerous people from their social media accounts were reporting observing injured individuals carried away on stretchers.
Live traffic cameras displayed an escalated emergency response in the area; at least five fire trucks blocked off the intersection instantaneously near the scene, and a line of police cars blocked off traffic near Times Square’s TKTS booth.
Press Secretary Sean Spicer tweeted that President Donald Trump had been made aware of the situation, as investigations about the suspect were ongoing.
Fresh York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Fresh York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio arrived on the scene shortly after and held a briefing with the media in Times Square.
After walking through Times Square, Governor Cuomo issued a statement, telling: "Today’s events at Times Square were nothing brief of horrific. I was briefed at the scene by Commissioner O’Neill and eyed firsthand the professionalism and diligence of Fresh York’s very first responders. As facts proceed to emerge, my heart goes out to the victims of this terrible tragedy, as well as their families."
—NBC News, Reuters and NBC Fresh York contributed to this report.