Updated at 12:45 a.m. ET
At least one person was killed Thursday when a vehicle hit a crowd of pedestrians in Times Square, according to fire officials in New York City. Twenty-two other people were injured in the incident.
At a news conference Thursday afternoon, NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill described the scene: A maroon Honda Accord leaped the curb at Seventh Avenue and 42nd Street, plowing onto the sidewalk for several blocks "at a high rate of speed" before finally crashing into a stanchion at 45th Street. After the car came to a halt, the driver tried to flee before officers took him into custody.
Richard Rojas, 26 y/o of the #Bronx (driver) drove at a high rate of speed. 22 injured (4 critical) and one person is deceased. #TimesSquare
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) May 18, 2017
"People were being hit and rolling off the car," one witness told Reuters.
O'Neill identified the suspect as 26-year-old Richard Rojas, describing him as a U.S. citizen and former service member with multiple previous DWI arrests. He has been charged with second degree murder, 20 counts of attempted second degree murder, and five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide. The commissioner said there is no indication that the incident was related to terrorism.
1 patient pronounced dead at scene, 4 critical, 3 serious, 15 less serious at 45th/Bdwy vehicle incident -#FDNY Comm pic.twitter.com/RjRzgq8aFL
— FDNY (@FDNY) May 18, 2017
One woman was killed at the scene. Police identified her as 18 year old Alyssa Elsman of Portage, Michigan. Four other people remain in critical condition, FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said at the news conference. A total of 22 people have been hospitalized.
"This is a tough day for New York City, but I want to thank our first responders who got here so quickly," Mayor Bill de Blasio wrote on Twitter. "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."
As facts continue to emerge, my heart goes out to the victims of this terrible tragedy, as well as their families.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) May 18, 2017
In a statement, Gov. Andrew Cuomo called the day's events "nothing short of horrific."
"As facts continue to emerge, my heart goes out to the victims of this terrible tragedy, as well as their families."
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