Car injures pedestrians in Times Square

[brooklynite]

Source: BBC

A vehicle has driven on to a crowded pavement in New York City's Times Square, reportedly killing one person and injuring several others.

The driver is in custody and the area has been sealed off, according to the New York Police Department.

A Reuters witness said at least 10 people were being treated for injuries at the scene.

The vehicle reportedly jumped the kerb at 7th Avenue and 45th St near the city's popular tourist spot.

Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39968710

[titaniumsalute]

1. Oh boy

I can't believe there are not more accidents there. When I worked in NYC tourists would juts walk out in front of traffic on 7th or Broadway. Of course many times the traffic is slow slow it didn't matter.

[brooklynite]

2. May not have been an accident...you can't really build up speed in that area unless you want to.

Video of driver being taken into custody didn't look like Police were considering it an accident.

[IronLionZion]

7. If the driver is dark skinned it's terrorism

if white, then maybe a stroke or mental illness or some benefit of a doubt.

[regnaD kciN]

9. ...or "we'll probably never be able to know why he did it."

[titaniumsalute]

8. OK thanks. Haven't been able to see video. Maybe intoxicated? Hope not terrorist crap

[hjh3rd]

12. The local NBC station is saying that the police think it was DWI.

The driver supposedly had a history of DWI arrests.

[IronLionZion]

3. NY Times has some pics

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/18/nyregion/times-square-crash.html?_r=0

No word on if it's an accident or deliberate. Freepers will blame immigrants/refugees in 3...2...1...

[herding cats]

4. 1 dead 20 injured per CBS. nt

[brooklynite]

5. UPDATE: CBS reporting Police believe it may be a DWI.

[spinbaby]

10. Very likely

Or a confused old person.

[itcfish]

14. A 26 Year Old

Hey leave us old folks alone!

[spinbaby]

25. I am old folks

Retired and cranky. But I'm also well aware that many elderly drive way longer than they should.

[itcfish]

29. True

Plenty of young reckless drivers who should not be on the road either, but I understand what you are saying.

[MichMary]

16. Just heard he's 26 years old n/t

[spinbaby]

26. Drunk then n/t

[herding cats]

6. NYPD says it's not terrorism. NT

[leftynyc]

11. Here's a local link

http://abc7ny.com/traffic/1-dead-at-least-13-hurt-after-car-hits-pedestrians-in-busy-times-square/2008388/

[itcfish]

13. Police are

reporting a 26-year-old male from the Bronx with 2 previous DWIs. Don't believe it is terrorism.

[BeyondGeography]

15. Drunk driver w/DWI history

https://mobile.twitter.com/willripleyCNN/status/865247783703334912?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

[christx30]

20. I hope they nail this little shit

to the wall. DWI is one of the most selfish, stupid things you can do.
And, being drunk this early in the day. At least prison will keep him from drinking. Unless he likes toilet wine.

[Mosby]

17. why BBC?

They can't even describe the scene correctly.

Kerb? Really?

[EleanorR]

19. British spelling nt

[benpollard]

18. He was sober enough to try to run away

[still_one]

21. An 18 year old girl was killed, and a whole lot of folks injured. Very sad

[mnhtnbb]

22. Awful. Could have been worse at night.

We will be there this Saturday night to see a play in a theater at 44th and B'way.

Times Square is always much more crowded in the evening.

[Doreen]

23. My boyfriend texted me at 9:15 to tell me about that.

He is staying four blocks from there.

[IronLionZion]

24. Driver named Richard Rojas, US citizen, Navy veteran, criminal record

and has had DUIs before. Very disappointed to see this from a Navy man.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/18/us/times-square-live-blog/index.html

Based on preliminary information about the crash, "at this time it doesn't appear to be terror-related," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

The driver is a US citizen, a former member of the Navy and has a criminal history, de Blasio said.

De Blasio also said the number of people injured has risen to 22. One young woman was killed, he said.

[brooklynite]

27. Believed to have been high on K2

[nitpicker]

28. Times Square car crash driver Richard Rojas 'heard voices'

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39971309

Times Square car crash driver Richard Rojas 'heard voices'

39 minutes ago

From the section US & Canada

A man who drove a car along three blocks of pavement in New York's Times Square, killing a teenager and injuring 22 people, said he had "heard voices", according to law enforcement sources. Richard Rojas, 26, a US navy veteran who was arrested twice previously for drunk driving, is now in custody.

He also said he expected to die, the sources told AP news agency. According to Reuters, he said after being arrested: "You were supposed to shoot me! I wanted to kill them."

Mr Rojas has been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated vehicular homicide and multiple counts of attempted murder. He is expected to appear in court later on Friday.
(snip)

Police believe he was high on synthetic marijuana, known as K2, ABC News reports, citing law enforcement sources. Initial tests reportedly came back negative for alcohol but positive for drugs.
(snip)