Summary
An 18-year-old woman was killed at least 22 other people were injured after a car crashed in Times Square, one of the most popular tourist destinations in New York.
The scene remains cordoned off as investigators collect more information on the incident.
Here’s what we know so far:
- Police said Richard Rojas, a 26-year-old from the Bronx, is the suspected driver. He had prior convictions for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and was a former member of the armed forces.
- The car, a 2009 Honda Accord, mounted the sidewalk and proceeded to drive along it for three blocks “at a high rate of speed,” according to police.
- An 18-year-old woman was killed in the crash and her 13-year-old sister was injured. The city is asking people with missing family members who may have been at Times Square to call its 311 hotline.
- Mayor Bill de Blasio and the NYPD said there is no indication this was an act of terrorism.
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NYPD commissioner James O’Neill named the suspect as Richard Rojas, a 26-year-old from the Bronx. Rojas was driving a maroon 2009 Honda Accord.
O’Neill said the car mounted the sidewalk on at the west side of 7th and 242nd street, then “proceeded to drive at a high rate of speed along the sidewalk from 42nd street to 45th street”.
An 18-year-old woman was killed in the crash and her 13-year-old sister was injured.
Rojas was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) in 2008 and 2015.
O’Neill said civilians and police were involved in apprehending the suspect but did not give any more details.
Mayor: 23 people injured, including one fatality
Mayor de Blasio said the suspect is a US citizen who served in the Navy. There is no indication of terrorism at this point, he said.
He said an investigation was underway and “there is a lot we will learn in the coming hours”.
The number of injured is now at least 23 people, including one fatality, de Blasio said.
We feel deeply for those injured and particularly for the family of the young woman who was lost. Our prayers are with all of them.
— Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) May 18, 2017
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Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYPD commissioner James O’Neill are speaking to the press from Times Square.
Update from Times Square regarding the vehicle collision https://t.co/2YLEVtCgN5
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) May 18, 2017
More than 300,000 pedestrians visit Times Square each day, and on its busiest days, there can be as many as 480,000 visitors, according to the Times Square Alliance.
There is a round-the-clock police presence at Times Square and there are many barriers in the area to prevent cars from getting onto sidewalks and other pedestrian areas.
The White House said Donald Trump was “made aware” of the the situation.
The FDNY has increased the tally of injured people to 19. One person died in the accident, the FDNY said.
The Guardian’s Adam Gabbatt, who is on the scene, said at 12.10pm four people, one wearing a neck brace, were being treated by ambulance staff outside Chase Bank on the corner of 42nd St and Seventh Avenue.
Times Square – usually one of the busiest areas of New York City – was completely blocked off to the public on Thursday afternoon.
Police shut down 43rd and 44th streets, which intersect Times Square, between Seventh and Eighth Ave.
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NYPD says incident not linked to terrorism
New York police department officials said the incident did not appear to be linked to terrorism and that the suspected driver had prior convictions for drunk driving. A man was seen being detained by several officers at the scene and led to a police vehicle.
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My colleague, Adam Gabbatt, is on the scene at Times Square, speaking to witnesses.
Abdel Dosokey, 20, was working in a falafel cart at Broadway and 43rd St, on the east side of Times Square, when the incident happened.
“I saw a car go onto the sidewalk and hit a lot of people,” Dosokey said.
“He went into the sidewalk and a lot of people were hit down after that”.
Dosokey said he wasn’t sure how many people were injured. “After just two minutes I see the cops around the area and the ambulances,” he said.
Suspect taken into custody – NYPD
The New York police department (NYPD) said one male was taken into custody.
“It is believed to be an isolated incident, it remains under investigation,” the department said in a statement.
NYC emergency management advised people to stay away from Times Square until more information was available. The scene and surrounding streets have been blocked off while authorities respond to the incident.
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One person dead, New York fire department confirms
The New York City fire department (FDNY) confirmed one person died and 12 people were injured in the accident, which occurred around noon.
#FDNY confirms 1 fatality, 12 injuries in Times Square motor vehicle accident, 45 St/Broadway pic.twitter.com/M3aEHZw7Go
— FDNY (@FDNY) May 18, 2017
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Pedestrians struck by vehicle in Times Square
Several pedestrians have been injured in New York’s Times Square after a car drove on to a sidewalk on Thursday.
A witness told Reuters the vehicle had driven against the traffic and on to the sidewalk, striking pedestrians.
We’ll bring you all the latest developments as we get them.
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