Car rams into crowd in Times Square, killing one
- 7 years ago
NEW YORK — A car plowed through New York City’s Times Square during lunch hour on Thursday, mowing down pedestrians. One person was killed and at least 22 others were injured.
According to Reuters, the car reportedly drove through 42nd street and drove north along 7th Avenue. The driver, identified as 26-year-old Richard Rojas, appeared to have been either drunk or on drugs.
The vehicle was moving against traffic and was speeding before the hitting a pole and crashed at 45th Street.
The driver has been identified as Richard Rojas, 26, who has been arrested twice before for driving while intoxicated. Officials said preliminary evidence indicated that the incident was not terrorism-related, and that Rojas may have been high on drugs. He has been arrested twice before for driving while intoxicated.
It was going at a fast rate of speed and to me it looked it was trying to hit as many people as possible,” Annie Donahey, a witness of the incident told the New York Times.
Other reports said Rojas was likely trying to commit suicide-by-cop, with the New York Post reporting sources claimed Rojas told police that they were supposed to shoot him.
The person killed in the incident has been identified as Michigan tourist, Alyssa Elsman. The 18-year-old was visiting the city with her family, including her 13-year-old sister, when the speeding car slammed into them.
According to Reuters, the car reportedly drove through 42nd street and drove north along 7th Avenue. The driver, identified as 26-year-old Richard Rojas, appeared to have been either drunk or on drugs.
The vehicle was moving against traffic and was speeding before the hitting a pole and crashed at 45th Street.
The driver has been identified as Richard Rojas, 26, who has been arrested twice before for driving while intoxicated. Officials said preliminary evidence indicated that the incident was not terrorism-related, and that Rojas may have been high on drugs. He has been arrested twice before for driving while intoxicated.
It was going at a fast rate of speed and to me it looked it was trying to hit as many people as possible,” Annie Donahey, a witness of the incident told the New York Times.
Other reports said Rojas was likely trying to commit suicide-by-cop, with the New York Post reporting sources claimed Rojas told police that they were supposed to shoot him.
The person killed in the incident has been identified as Michigan tourist, Alyssa Elsman. The 18-year-old was visiting the city with her family, including her 13-year-old sister, when the speeding car slammed into them.