1 Dead, twenty two Hurt After Being Struck By Car In Times Square – CBS Fresh York
18-Year-Old Woman Killed, twenty two People Hurt When Car Slams Into Pedestrians In Times Square
UPDATED 05/Nineteen/17 12:16 a.m.
Fresh YORK (CBSNewYork) – One person was killed and twenty two people injured after being struck by a car in Times Square shortly before noon Thursday.
As CBS2’s Jessica Layton reported, surveillance movie captured the peaceful of people walking around Times Square at lunchtime before the out-of-control car switched everything. As the car zoomed through, people were thrown from its fetish mask and left disoriented on the sidewalk.
Alyssa Elsman, Legitimate, of Portage, Michigan, was killed after being struck by the crimson Honda Accord before it came to a stop by crashing into steel barriers at 45th Street and Seventh Avenue, Mayor Bill de Blasio said. The twenty two injured victims included Elsman’s 13-year-old sister.
Four of victims were originally reported in critical condition. Six others were rushed to Climb on Sinai West Hospital, with two in serious condition and four others expected to be treated and released.
NYC Health + Hospitals Bellevue reported two people in serious condition late Thursday afternoon.
Police escort 26-year-old Richard Rojas, the man suspected of driving through Times Square killing one person and injuring twenty two others on May Legitimate, 2017. (credit: CBS2)
A traffic agent, patrol officer, and others instantaneously apprehended the driver, Richard Rojas, after the incident.
Rojas was charged early Friday with one count of second-degree murder, twenty counts of attempted murder, and five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide.
Rojas, 26, of the Bronx, has been arrested twice before for driving while intoxicated.
Authorities said that preliminary information showcased no terror connection, albeit the NYPD has enlargened patrols at other catches sight of around the city.
Witnesses described the driver, who was seen in a crosswalk moments before the crash, as looking totally crazed before he was taken into custody. As people ran for their lives, minds were racing over whether it was all an accident or an act of terrorism.
City officials quickly set the record straight.
“This is not an act of terror,” de Blasio said. Nonetheless, the NYPD enlargened its security position at a number of major sites across the city “out of an abundance of caution,” he added.
Rojas is a U.S. citizen and a former member of the U.S. Navy, de Blasio said.
Richard Rojas, twenty six y/o of the #Bronx (driver) drove at a high rate of speed. Twenty two injured (Four critical) and one person is deceased. #TimesSquare
The incident began at 11:54 a.m. as Rojas was driving south on Seventh Avenue through Times Square, police said.
“As he approaches 42nd Street, he makes a quick U-turn on to the west side street, the west side sidewalk of Seventh Avenue and 42nd Street,” said NYPD Chief of Manhattan South Detectives William Aubry. “He proceeds on that west side sidewalk for three and half blocks, where he hits a stanchion.”
The car went flying and also caught fire when it eventually struck the stanchion along the sidewalk at 45th Street.
“I was walking. There were bods scattered everywhere; people injured,” said witness Kevin Sykes.
“I witnessed the flames coming up from under the rubber hood of the car and somebody was getting pulled out from under the car,” said tourist Annette Proehl.
“If it wasn’t for the pole, we would’ve been injured,” added a teenage witness.
Rojas got out of the car and was tackled and taken into custody.
“They get him in the patrol car, they get him back to Midtown South Precinct, he makes certain statements which I’m not going to get into right now,” Aubry added.
Rojas was being tested for drugs and alcohol and blew zero on a Breathalyzer, police sources said. He told police he “smoked something.”
Sources said Rojas may have been under the influence of some drug. It was not known if the drug was K2.
Sources said Rojas originally tested positive for marijuana. Further testing was under way late Thursday to determine whether there were any extra drugs in his system.
Police sources also said a possible motive for the incident was suicide by cop.
“The driver attempted to run from the scene, and the bouncer from Planet Hollywood hit him, so we hopped on top of him and ripped his T-shirt, wished to make sure he had no gun or knife on him,” a tour bus ticket agent told CBS2’s Janelle Burrell. “I see the car coming in rapid, no brake, no nothing. Bang! Before I realized it there’s fire on the car… my co-worker leaped from the scene. … I don’t smell alcohol because he turned around and we spotted his face. He said to make him liberate. … Anything happens here there’s no time for people to react.”
CBS2 caught up with the Planet Hollywood bouncer, Kenya Bradix, who is being hailed as a hero after taking on the suspect.
“I eyed the man run into the poll. I heard people screaming: ‘Get him! Get him!’ After I heard the screaming, I just did what anyone would do,” Bradix said. “I have twenty five years of practice in security, so it was a kneejerk reaction for me. It was just one of those things. I didn’t want to just sit around and let things go.”
Once the scene was secured, police began looking into the car.
“Everyone was just kind of suspending out and the car just came and hit the pole out of nowhere,” a witness told CBS2’s Alice Gainer. “People were going to the scene to check it out. There was actually a dude trapped in the car. Within forty five seconds [very first responders] were on the scene. People were worried it was going to be a bomb.”
One masculine in custody in the #TimesSquare vehicle collision.
It is believed to be an isolated incident, it remains under investigation.
Eventually, police began moving everyone back several blocks because, as one officer said, they indeed did not know what was in the car.
Several witnesses described the horror of the scene afterward.
“I’m frightened, it’s very surprising but scary at the same time. Just how one person may end up doing this, out of the blue,” said another witness. He also said he heard a “ample bang” when the crash happened.
“The car just came indeed quick and injured a lot of people. We actually spotted the people in the ground and attempted to help but we couldn’t do anything.”
“It made like a path and that’s it,” another witness told Gainer. “They caught the person after a duo of seconds. It’s indeed tragic. .. Some woman in front of us she died and lot of people had serious injuries. Blood everywhere, we kept looking at ourselves like what can we do. But the police came indeed prompt. I just feel like everybody had no reaction because we attempted to help .. it’s just like people on the ground hit by a car, there’s not much we could do and everybody was like truly stunned and we didn’t know what to do. It was truly a terrible scene.”
“There was a lot of tourists here buying tickets for Phantom of the Opera because there’s a two p.m. display,” a witness told CBS2’s Burrell. “Also a lot of people sitting and having lunch and talking, it was a nice day. What happened was a surprise, I just heard the sound of the car on fire … It happened so prompt, it was a lot of smoke and fire, you couldn’t see nothing. … It was a very big surprise, I was startled because I reminisce Paris and I was frightened to get closer.”
Many victims felt sad for the youthfull woman who was killed and for those struck, They said they also felt fortunate they weren’t hit themselves.
“Being that I got hit by pebble, yeah, I’m pretty damn fortunate today,” one witness said.
“I had to get off the street, and if I hadn’t, I’d most likely be dead,” a woman said.
Mayor de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo both suggested their thoughts and prayers to the victims in the incident.
“We all feel deeply right now for those who were injured and for the families and particularly for the family of the youthfull woman who was lost, our prayers are with her family and with all those right now who are suffering because of this horrible incident,” de Blasio said.
“Today’s events at Times Square were nothing brief of horrific,” said Cuomo. “As facts proceed to emerge, my heart goes out to the victims of this terrible tragedy, as well as their families.”
“This is a harsh day for Fresh York City, but as usual, the people of Fresh York City will stand rock-hard, will be resilient,” de Blasio said.
Traffic in the area was rerouted and much of the area was blocked off. Times Square was only partially back open five hours after the incident.
Click here to check current traffic conditions.
The car was eliminated from the scene around 8:30 p.m. after police investigated and processed the scene.
Some road closures continued as of Ten:30 p.m. Seventh Avenue was closed inbetween 40th and 57th streets, 45th and 46th streets were closed inbetween Sixth and Eighth avenues, and 43rd Street was closed inbetween Sixth and Seventh avenues.
The car was elevated onto the back of a trailer and hauled away.
President Donald Trump was made aware of the situation, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer tweeted.
Suspect Rojas was arrested in two thousand eight and two thousand fifteen for drinking and driving. He was most recently arrested earlier this month for menacing, Aubry said.
Rojas was also arrested on suspicion of battery in two thousand twelve at the Mayport Naval Base in Jacksonville, Florida, where he was stationed at the time.
Rojas was taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue for a medical evaluation after he was apprehended.
1 Dead, twenty two Hurt After Being Struck By Car In Times Square – CBS Fresh York
18-Year-Old Woman Killed, twenty two People Hurt When Car Slams Into Pedestrians In Times Square
UPDATED 05/Nineteen/17 12:16 a.m.
Fresh YORK (CBSNewYork) – One person was killed and twenty two people injured after being struck by a car in Times Square shortly before noon Thursday.
As CBS2’s Jessica Layton reported, surveillance movie captured the peaceful of people walking around Times Square at lunchtime before the out-of-control car switched everything. As the car zoomed through, people were thrown from its bondage mask and left disoriented on the sidewalk.
Alyssa Elsman, Legitimate, of Portage, Michigan, was killed after being struck by the crimson Honda Accord before it came to a stop by crashing into steel barriers at 45th Street and Seventh Avenue, Mayor Bill de Blasio said. The twenty two injured victims included Elsman’s 13-year-old sister.
Four of victims were originally reported in critical condition. Six others were rushed to Climb on Sinai West Hospital, with two in serious condition and four others expected to be treated and released.
NYC Health + Hospitals Bellevue reported two people in serious condition late Thursday afternoon.
Police escort 26-year-old Richard Rojas, the man suspected of driving through Times Square killing one person and injuring twenty two others on May Legitimate, 2017. (credit: CBS2)
A traffic agent, patrol officer, and others instantaneously apprehended the driver, Richard Rojas, after the incident.
Rojas was charged early Friday with one count of second-degree murder, twenty counts of attempted murder, and five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide.
Rojas, 26, of the Bronx, has been arrested twice before for driving while intoxicated.
Authorities said that preliminary information displayed no terror connection, albeit the NYPD has enlargened patrols at other catches sight of around the city.
Witnesses described the driver, who was seen in a crosswalk moments before the crash, as looking entirely crazed before he was taken into custody. As people ran for their lives, minds were racing over whether it was all an accident or an act of terrorism.
City officials quickly set the record straight.
“This is not an act of terror,” de Blasio said. Nonetheless, the NYPD enhanced its security stance at a number of major sites across the city “out of an abundance of caution,” he added.
Rojas is a U.S. citizen and a former member of the U.S. Navy, de Blasio said.
Richard Rojas, twenty six y/o of the #Bronx (driver) drove at a high rate of speed. Twenty two injured (Four critical) and one person is deceased. #TimesSquare
The incident began at 11:54 a.m. as Rojas was driving south on Seventh Avenue through Times Square, police said.
“As he approaches 42nd Street, he makes a quick U-turn on to the west side street, the west side sidewalk of Seventh Avenue and 42nd Street,” said NYPD Chief of Manhattan South Detectives William Aubry. “He proceeds on that west side sidewalk for three and half blocks, where he hits a stanchion.”
The car went flying and also caught fire when it ultimately struck the stanchion along the sidewalk at 45th Street.
“I was walking. There were bods scattered everywhere; people injured,” said witness Kevin Sykes.
“I eyed the flames coming up from under the fetish mask of the car and somebody was getting pulled out from under the car,” said tourist Annette Proehl.
“If it wasn’t for the pole, we would’ve been injured,” added a teenage witness.
Rojas got out of the car and was tackled and taken into custody.
“They get him in the patrol car, they get him back to Midtown South Precinct, he makes certain statements which I’m not going to get into right now,” Aubry added.
Rojas was being tested for drugs and alcohol and blew zero on a Breathalyzer, police sources said. He told police he “smoked something.”
Sources said Rojas may have been under the influence of some drug. It was not known if the drug was K2.
Sources said Rojas originally tested positive for marijuana. Further testing was under way late Thursday to determine whether there were any extra drugs in his system.
Police sources also said a possible motive for the incident was suicide by cop.
“The driver attempted to run from the scene, and the bouncer from Planet Hollywood hit him, so we hopped on top of him and ripped his T-shirt, wished to make sure he had no gun or knife on him,” a tour bus ticket agent told CBS2’s Janelle Burrell. “I see the car coming in prompt, no brake, no nothing. Bang! Before I realized it there’s fire on the car… my co-worker leaped from the scene. … I don’t smell alcohol because he turned around and we eyed his face. He said to make him liberate. … Anything happens here there’s no time for people to react.”
CBS2 caught up with the Planet Hollywood bouncer, Kenya Bradix, who is being hailed as a hero after taking on the suspect.
“I spotted the boy run into the poll. I heard people screaming: ‘Get him! Get him!’ After I heard the screaming, I just did what anyone would do,” Bradix said. “I have twenty five years of practice in security, so it was a kneejerk reaction for me. It was just one of those things. I didn’t want to just sit around and let things go.”
Once the scene was secured, police began looking into the car.
“Everyone was just kind of stringing up out and the car just came and hit the pole out of nowhere,” a witness told CBS2’s Alice Gainer. “People were going to the scene to check it out. There was actually a stud trapped in the car. Within forty five seconds [very first responders] were on the scene. People were worried it was going to be a bomb.”
One masculine in custody in the #TimesSquare vehicle collision.
It is believed to be an isolated incident, it remains under investigation.
Eventually, police began moving everyone back several blocks because, as one officer said, they indeed did not know what was in the car.
Several witnesses described the horror of the scene afterward.
“I’m frightened, it’s very surprising but scary at the same time. Just how one person may end up doing this, out of the blue,” said another witness. He also said he heard a “thick bang” when the crash happened.
“The car just came indeed prompt and injured a lot of people. We actually eyed the people in the ground and attempted to help but we couldn’t do anything.”
“It made like a path and that’s it,” another witness told Gainer. “They caught the person after a duo of seconds. It’s truly tragic. .. Some woman in front of us she died and lot of people had serious injuries. Blood everywhere, we kept looking at ourselves like what can we do. But the police came indeed quick. I just feel like everybody had no reaction because we attempted to help .. it’s just like people on the ground hit by a car, there’s not much we could do and everybody was like truly stunned and we didn’t know what to do. It was truly a terrible scene.”
“There was a lot of tourists here buying tickets for Phantom of the Opera because there’s a two p.m. display,” a witness told CBS2’s Burrell. “Also a lot of people sitting and having lunch and talking, it was a nice day. What happened was a surprise, I just heard the sound of the car on fire … It happened so swift, it was a lot of smoke and fire, you couldn’t see nothing. … It was a very big surprise, I was startled because I recall Paris and I was panicked to get closer.”
Many victims felt sad for the youthfull woman who was killed and for those struck, They said they also felt fortunate they weren’t hit themselves.
“Being that I got hit by pebble, yeah, I’m pretty damn fortunate today,” one witness said.
“I had to get off the street, and if I hadn’t, I’d very likely be dead,” a woman said.
Mayor de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo both suggested their thoughts and prayers to the victims in the incident.
“We all feel deeply right now for those who were injured and for the families and particularly for the family of the youthfull woman who was lost, our prayers are with her family and with all those right now who are suffering because of this horrible incident,” de Blasio said.
“Today’s events at Times Square were nothing brief of horrific,” said Cuomo. “As facts proceed to emerge, my heart goes out to the victims of this terrible tragedy, as well as their families.”
“This is a rough day for Fresh York City, but as usual, the people of Fresh York City will stand rock hard, will be resilient,” de Blasio said.
Traffic in the area was rerouted and much of the area was blocked off. Times Square was only partially back open five hours after the incident.
Click here to check current traffic conditions.
The car was liquidated from the scene around 8:30 p.m. after police investigated and processed the scene.
Some road closures continued as of Ten:30 p.m. Seventh Avenue was closed inbetween 40th and 57th streets, 45th and 46th streets were closed inbetween Sixth and Eighth avenues, and 43rd Street was closed inbetween Sixth and Seventh avenues.
The car was elevated onto the back of a trailer and hauled away.
President Donald Trump was made aware of the situation, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer tweeted.
Suspect Rojas was arrested in two thousand eight and two thousand fifteen for drinking and driving. He was most recently arrested earlier this month for menacing, Aubry said.
Rojas was also arrested on suspicion of battery in two thousand twelve at the Mayport Naval Base in Jacksonville, Florida, where he was stationed at the time.
Rojas was taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue for a medical evaluation after he was apprehended.
1 Dead, twenty two Hurt After Being Struck By Car In Times Square – CBS Fresh York
18-Year-Old Woman Killed, twenty two People Hurt When Car Slams Into Pedestrians In Times Square
UPDATED 05/Nineteen/17 12:16 a.m.
Fresh YORK (CBSNewYork) – One person was killed and twenty two people injured after being struck by a car in Times Square shortly before noon Thursday.
As CBS2’s Jessica Layton reported, surveillance movie captured the silent of people walking around Times Square at lunchtime before the out-of-control car switched everything. As the car zoomed through, people were thrown from its bondage mask and left disoriented on the sidewalk.
Alyssa Elsman, Eighteen, of Portage, Michigan, was killed after being struck by the crimson Honda Accord before it came to a stop by crashing into steel barriers at 45th Street and Seventh Avenue, Mayor Bill de Blasio said. The twenty two injured victims included Elsman’s 13-year-old sister.
Four of victims were originally reported in critical condition. Six others were rushed to Climb on Sinai West Hospital, with two in serious condition and four others expected to be treated and released.
NYC Health + Hospitals Bellevue reported two people in serious condition late Thursday afternoon.
Police escort 26-year-old Richard Rojas, the man suspected of driving through Times Square killing one person and injuring twenty two others on May Legal, 2017. (credit: CBS2)
A traffic agent, patrol officer, and others instantly apprehended the driver, Richard Rojas, after the incident.
Rojas was charged early Friday with one count of second-degree murder, twenty counts of attempted murder, and five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide.
Rojas, 26, of the Bronx, has been arrested twice before for driving while intoxicated.
Authorities said that preliminary information displayed no terror connection, albeit the NYPD has enlargened patrols at other catches sight of around the city.
Witnesses described the driver, who was seen in a crosswalk moments before the crash, as looking downright crazed before he was taken into custody. As people ran for their lives, minds were racing over whether it was all an accident or an act of terrorism.
City officials quickly set the record straight.
“This is not an act of terror,” de Blasio said. Nonetheless, the NYPD enlargened its security position at a number of major sites across the city “out of an abundance of caution,” he added.
Rojas is a U.S. citizen and a former member of the U.S. Navy, de Blasio said.
Richard Rojas, twenty six y/o of the #Bronx (driver) drove at a high rate of speed. Twenty two injured (Four critical) and one person is deceased. #TimesSquare
The incident began at 11:54 a.m. as Rojas was driving south on Seventh Avenue through Times Square, police said.
“As he approaches 42nd Street, he makes a quick U-turn on to the west side street, the west side sidewalk of Seventh Avenue and 42nd Street,” said NYPD Chief of Manhattan South Detectives William Aubry. “He proceeds on that west side sidewalk for three and half blocks, where he hits a stanchion.”
The car went flying and also caught fire when it ultimately struck the stanchion along the sidewalk at 45th Street.
“I was walking. There were figures scattered everywhere; people injured,” said witness Kevin Sykes.
“I eyed the flames coming up from under the rubber hood of the car and somebody was getting pulled out from under the car,” said tourist Annette Proehl.
“If it wasn’t for the pole, we would’ve been injured,” added a teenage witness.
Rojas got out of the car and was tackled and taken into custody.
“They get him in the patrol car, they get him back to Midtown South Precinct, he makes certain statements which I’m not going to get into right now,” Aubry added.
Rojas was being tested for drugs and alcohol and blew zero on a Breathalyzer, police sources said. He told police he “smoked something.”
Sources said Rojas may have been under the influence of some drug. It was not known if the drug was K2.
Sources said Rojas originally tested positive for marijuana. Further testing was under way late Thursday to determine whether there were any extra drugs in his system.
Police sources also said a possible motive for the incident was suicide by cop.
“The driver attempted to run from the scene, and the bouncer from Planet Hollywood hit him, so we hopped on top of him and ripped his T-shirt, desired to make sure he had no gun or knife on him,” a tour bus ticket agent told CBS2’s Janelle Burrell. “I see the car coming in quick, no brake, no nothing. Bang! Before I realized it there’s fire on the car… my co-worker leaped from the scene. … I don’t smell alcohol because he turned around and we spotted his face. He said to make him liberate. … Anything happens here there’s no time for people to react.”
CBS2 caught up with the Planet Hollywood bouncer, Kenya Bradix, who is being hailed as a hero after taking on the suspect.
“I eyed the dude run into the poll. I heard people screaming: ‘Get him! Get him!’ After I heard the screaming, I just did what anyone would do,” Bradix said. “I have twenty five years of practice in security, so it was a kneejerk reaction for me. It was just one of those things. I didn’t want to just sit around and let things go.”
Once the scene was secured, police began looking into the car.
“Everyone was just kind of dangling out and the car just came and hit the pole out of nowhere,” a witness told CBS2’s Alice Gainer. “People were going to the scene to check it out. There was actually a fellow trapped in the car. Within forty five seconds [very first responders] were on the scene. People were worried it was going to be a bomb.”
One masculine in custody in the #TimesSquare vehicle collision.
It is believed to be an isolated incident, it remains under investigation.
Eventually, police began moving everyone back several blocks because, as one officer said, they indeed did not know what was in the car.
Several witnesses described the horror of the scene afterward.
“I’m startled, it’s very surprising but scary at the same time. Just how one person may end up doing this, out of the blue,” said another witness. He also said he heard a “large bang” when the crash happened.
“The car just came indeed quick and injured a lot of people. We actually eyed the people in the ground and attempted to help but we couldn’t do anything.”
“It made like a path and that’s it,” another witness told Gainer. “They caught the person after a duo of seconds. It’s truly tragic. .. Some woman in front of us she died and lot of people had serious injuries. Blood everywhere, we kept looking at ourselves like what can we do. But the police came indeed prompt. I just feel like everybody had no reaction because we attempted to help .. it’s just like people on the ground hit by a car, there’s not much we could do and everybody was like indeed stunned and we didn’t know what to do. It was indeed a terrible scene.”
“There was a lot of tourists here buying tickets for Phantom of the Opera because there’s a two p.m. demonstrate,” a witness told CBS2’s Burrell. “Also a lot of people sitting and having lunch and talking, it was a nice day. What happened was a surprise, I just heard the sound of the car on fire … It happened so rapid, it was a lot of smoke and fire, you couldn’t see nothing. … It was a very big surprise, I was startled because I reminisce Paris and I was frightened to get closer.”
Many victims felt sad for the youthful woman who was killed and for those struck, They said they also felt fortunate they weren’t hit themselves.
“Being that I got hit by pebble, yeah, I’m pretty damn fortunate today,” one witness said.
“I had to get off the street, and if I hadn’t, I’d most likely be dead,” a woman said.
Mayor de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo both suggested their thoughts and prayers to the victims in the incident.
“We all feel deeply right now for those who were injured and for the families and particularly for the family of the youthful woman who was lost, our prayers are with her family and with all those right now who are suffering because of this horrible incident,” de Blasio said.
“Today’s events at Times Square were nothing brief of horrific,” said Cuomo. “As facts proceed to emerge, my heart goes out to the victims of this terrible tragedy, as well as their families.”
“This is a harsh day for Fresh York City, but as usual, the people of Fresh York City will stand rigid, will be resilient,” de Blasio said.
Traffic in the area was rerouted and much of the area was blocked off. Times Square was only partially back open five hours after the incident.
Click here to check current traffic conditions.
The car was liquidated from the scene around 8:30 p.m. after police investigated and processed the scene.
Some road closures continued as of Ten:30 p.m. Seventh Avenue was closed inbetween 40th and 57th streets, 45th and 46th streets were closed inbetween Sixth and Eighth avenues, and 43rd Street was closed inbetween Sixth and Seventh avenues.
The car was elevated onto the back of a trailer and hauled away.
President Donald Trump was made aware of the situation, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer tweeted.
Suspect Rojas was arrested in two thousand eight and two thousand fifteen for drinking and driving. He was most recently arrested earlier this month for menacing, Aubry said.
Rojas was also arrested on suspicion of battery in two thousand twelve at the Mayport Naval Base in Jacksonville, Florida, where he was stationed at the time.
Rojas was taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue for a medical evaluation after he was apprehended.
1 Dead, twenty two Hurt After Being Struck By Car In Times Square – CBS Fresh York
18-Year-Old Woman Killed, twenty two People Hurt When Car Slams Into Pedestrians In Times Square
UPDATED 05/Nineteen/17 12:16 a.m.
Fresh YORK (CBSNewYork) – One person was killed and twenty two people injured after being struck by a car in Times Square shortly before noon Thursday.
As CBS2’s Jessica Layton reported, surveillance movie captured the quiet of people walking around Times Square at lunchtime before the out-of-control car switched everything. As the car zoomed through, people were thrown from its rubber hood and left disoriented on the sidewalk.
Alyssa Elsman, Legitimate, of Portage, Michigan, was killed after being struck by the crimson Honda Accord before it came to a stop by crashing into steel barriers at 45th Street and Seventh Avenue, Mayor Bill de Blasio said. The twenty two injured victims included Elsman’s 13-year-old sister.
Four of victims were originally reported in critical condition. Six others were rushed to Climb on Sinai West Hospital, with two in serious condition and four others expected to be treated and released.
NYC Health + Hospitals Bellevue reported two people in serious condition late Thursday afternoon.
Police escort 26-year-old Richard Rojas, the man suspected of driving through Times Square killing one person and injuring twenty two others on May Eighteen, 2017. (credit: CBS2)
A traffic agent, patrol officer, and others instantly apprehended the driver, Richard Rojas, after the incident.
Rojas was charged early Friday with one count of second-degree murder, twenty counts of attempted murder, and five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide.
Rojas, 26, of the Bronx, has been arrested twice before for driving while intoxicated.
Authorities said that preliminary information demonstrated no terror connection, albeit the NYPD has enhanced patrols at other catches sight of around the city.
Witnesses described the driver, who was seen in a crosswalk moments before the crash, as looking fully crazed before he was taken into custody. As people ran for their lives, minds were racing over whether it was all an accident or an act of terrorism.
City officials quickly set the record straight.
“This is not an act of terror,” de Blasio said. Nonetheless, the NYPD enhanced its security position at a number of major sites across the city “out of an abundance of caution,” he added.
Rojas is a U.S. citizen and a former member of the U.S. Navy, de Blasio said.
Richard Rojas, twenty six y/o of the #Bronx (driver) drove at a high rate of speed. Twenty two injured (Four critical) and one person is deceased. #TimesSquare
The incident began at 11:54 a.m. as Rojas was driving south on Seventh Avenue through Times Square, police said.
“As he approaches 42nd Street, he makes a quick U-turn on to the west side street, the west side sidewalk of Seventh Avenue and 42nd Street,” said NYPD Chief of Manhattan South Detectives William Aubry. “He proceeds on that west side sidewalk for three and half blocks, where he hits a stanchion.”
The car went flying and also caught fire when it eventually struck the stanchion along the sidewalk at 45th Street.
“I was walking. There were bods scattered everywhere; people injured,” said witness Kevin Sykes.
“I eyed the flames coming up from under the bondage mask of the car and somebody was getting pulled out from under the car,” said tourist Annette Proehl.
“If it wasn’t for the pole, we would’ve been injured,” added a teenage witness.
Rojas got out of the car and was tackled and taken into custody.
“They get him in the patrol car, they get him back to Midtown South Precinct, he makes certain statements which I’m not going to get into right now,” Aubry added.
Rojas was being tested for drugs and alcohol and blew zero on a Breathalyzer, police sources said. He told police he “smoked something.”
Sources said Rojas may have been under the influence of some drug. It was not known if the drug was K2.
Sources said Rojas originally tested positive for marijuana. Further testing was under way late Thursday to determine whether there were any extra drugs in his system.
Police sources also said a possible motive for the incident was suicide by cop.
“The driver attempted to run from the scene, and the bouncer from Planet Hollywood hit him, so we hopped on top of him and ripped his T-shirt, dreamed to make sure he had no gun or knife on him,” a tour bus ticket agent told CBS2’s Janelle Burrell. “I see the car coming in prompt, no brake, no nothing. Bang! Before I realized it there’s fire on the car… my co-worker hopped from the scene. … I don’t smell alcohol because he turned around and we spotted his face. He said to make him liberate. … Anything happens here there’s no time for people to react.”
CBS2 caught up with the Planet Hollywood bouncer, Kenya Bradix, who is being hailed as a hero after taking on the suspect.
“I eyed the boy run into the poll. I heard people screaming: ‘Get him! Get him!’ After I heard the screaming, I just did what anyone would do,” Bradix said. “I have twenty five years of practice in security, so it was a kneejerk reaction for me. It was just one of those things. I didn’t want to just sit around and let things go.”
Once the scene was secured, police began looking into the car.
“Everyone was just kind of dangling out and the car just came and hit the pole out of nowhere,” a witness told CBS2’s Alice Gainer. “People were going to the scene to check it out. There was actually a boy trapped in the car. Within forty five seconds [very first responders] were on the scene. People were worried it was going to be a bomb.”
One masculine in custody in the #TimesSquare vehicle collision.
It is believed to be an isolated incident, it remains under investigation.
Eventually, police commenced moving everyone back several blocks because, as one officer said, they indeed did not know what was in the car.
Several witnesses described the horror of the scene afterward.
“I’m startled, it’s very surprising but scary at the same time. Just how one person may end up doing this, out of the blue,” said another witness. He also said he heard a “ample bang” when the crash happened.
“The car just came indeed quick and injured a lot of people. We actually spotted the people in the ground and attempted to help but we couldn’t do anything.”
“It made like a path and that’s it,” another witness told Gainer. “They caught the person after a duo of seconds. It’s truly tragic. .. Some woman in front of us she died and lot of people had serious injuries. Blood everywhere, we kept looking at ourselves like what can we do. But the police came indeed rapid. I just feel like everybody had no reaction because we attempted to help .. it’s just like people on the ground hit by a car, there’s not much we could do and everybody was like truly stunned and we didn’t know what to do. It was truly a terrible scene.”
“There was a lot of tourists here buying tickets for Phantom of the Opera because there’s a two p.m. display,” a witness told CBS2’s Burrell. “Also a lot of people sitting and having lunch and talking, it was a nice day. What happened was a surprise, I just heard the sound of the car on fire … It happened so quick, it was a lot of smoke and fire, you couldn’t see nothing. … It was a very big surprise, I was panicked because I reminisce Paris and I was startled to get closer.”
Many victims felt sad for the youthfull woman who was killed and for those struck, They said they also felt fortunate they weren’t hit themselves.
“Being that I got hit by pebble, yeah, I’m pretty damn fortunate today,” one witness said.
“I had to get off the street, and if I hadn’t, I’d very likely be dead,” a woman said.
Mayor de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo both suggested their thoughts and prayers to the victims in the incident.
“We all feel deeply right now for those who were injured and for the families and particularly for the family of the youthful woman who was lost, our prayers are with her family and with all those right now who are suffering because of this horrible incident,” de Blasio said.
“Today’s events at Times Square were nothing brief of horrific,” said Cuomo. “As facts proceed to emerge, my heart goes out to the victims of this terrible tragedy, as well as their families.”
“This is a rough day for Fresh York City, but as usual, the people of Fresh York City will stand stiff, will be resilient,” de Blasio said.
Traffic in the area was rerouted and much of the area was blocked off. Times Square was only partially back open five hours after the incident.
Click here to check current traffic conditions.
The car was liquidated from the scene around 8:30 p.m. after police investigated and processed the scene.
Some road closures continued as of Ten:30 p.m. Seventh Avenue was closed inbetween 40th and 57th streets, 45th and 46th streets were closed inbetween Sixth and Eighth avenues, and 43rd Street was closed inbetween Sixth and Seventh avenues.
The car was raised onto the back of a trailer and hauled away.
President Donald Trump was made aware of the situation, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer tweeted.
Suspect Rojas was arrested in two thousand eight and two thousand fifteen for drinking and driving. He was most recently arrested earlier this month for menacing, Aubry said.
Rojas was also arrested on suspicion of battery in two thousand twelve at the Mayport Naval Base in Jacksonville, Florida, where he was stationed at the time.
Rojas was taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue for a medical evaluation after he was apprehended.