Cape Breton Post

Canadian connection

Canadian injured in Times Square car attack in ‘very critical’ condition: police

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New York City police say a Canadian woman remains in very critical condition a day after a speeding car slammed into pedestrian­s in Times Square in what authoritie­s said was a deliberate attack.

Assistant chief William Aubry says the 38-year-old woman is among seven people still in hospital following the incident in which a teenage tourist was killed and almost two dozen other people injured.

Authoritie­s have provided no further details about the Canadian.

Aubry says three others remain in critical condition with head injuries, while a fourth person was being treated for a collapsed lung and broken pelvis.

A prosecutor says the driver, who faces felony murder charges for plowing into the pedestrian­s on the sidewalks, told authoritie­s he wanted to “kill them all” and that police should have shot him to stop him.

Police say the man, Richard Rojas, 26, also told responding officers Thursday after he crashed his Honda Accord into protective barriers that he had smoked marijuana laced with PCP - also known as angel dust.

Officials were awaiting toxicology results, though police said Rojas “had glassy eyes, slurred speech, and was unsteady,” during his arrest, according to the complaint.

Rojas, wearing the same red T-shirt and jeans he was wearing when he was arrested, appeared subdued during a brief court appearance Friday where prosecutor­s detailed a felony murder charge. He didn’t enter a plea.

His lawyer and weeping supporters had no comment. He’s due back in court next week.

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