HORROR IN TIMES SQUARE
Moment New York killer ‘drink-driver’ tried to flee
richard rojas, 26, raced past a screaming woman and child as he leapt from his crashed car after witnesses saw it plough into crowds.
An 18-year-old girl died and at least 22 other pedestrians were injured as the maroon Honda saloon mounted the pavement at the tourist hotspot.
The scene brought back memories of London’s Westminster Bridge attack but the New York Police Department later said it was not terror-related.
rojas, a 26-year-old Us Navy veteran from the Bronx, allegedly had a history of drink-driving and one report claimed he was high on marijuana.
He struck a terrifying pose as he apparently fled the scene, yards from the smouldering wreck of his car which was pinned to bollards.
One victim – an elderly man – can be seen in the road just behind the rear bumper of the crashed vehicle.
rojas – reportedly described by a policeman as ‘drunk or on drugs’ – was quickly grabbed by a traffic officer and pinned down with help of colleagues and members of the public. Police said he got into a fight with an officer. A video later showed him, his shirt ripped, being led away.
One report claimed rojas was ‘visually impaired’ and had admitted to police he had been smoking marijuana before the crash.
The terror unfolded shortly before midday local time as Times square was packed with tourists and office workers on lunch breaks.
Witnesses described how he careered along seventh Avenue before making a U-turn against the traffic. He is said to have mounted the pavement and drove three and a half blocks, sending pedestrians flying, before crashing into bollards on the corner of 45th street and Broadway.
The 18-year-old, named as Alyssa Elsman from michigan, died at the scene. Her 13-year-old sister was taken to hospital. At least four victims suffered critical injuries including open fractures and a further three were described as seriously injured, police said. On Twitter, Annie Donahey wrote: ‘The girl who was walking next to me died. If I’d waited to cross the street I’d probably be dead right now.’
Witness Juan soto told sky News: ‘It was a gruesome scene with multiple victims on the sidewalk. When I saw the head injuries and their blood, and victims not moving, that’s when I realised a car had run into the crowds.’
rojas had two previous arrests for ‘driving while intoxicated’, it was reported last night. In one, he drove at 99mph in a 50mph zone.
It is believed he has also had his licence suspended ‘multiple times’.
Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said rojas was arrested for drink-driving in Queens in 2008 and held again for the same offence in manhattan in 2015.
In may this year he was arrested for ‘menacing’, it was said.
Times square is one of the busiest tourist spots in the world and some half a million visitors pass through it on busy days. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called yesterday’s incident ‘horrific’. He added: ‘my heart goes out to the victims of this terrible tragedy, as well as their families.’
Terrorist Khalid masood killed four pedestrians when he sped over Westminster Bridge in march before stabbing a policeman to death.
‘It was a gruesome scene’
Arms outstretched and wildeyed, this is the suspected drink-driver who brought carnage to New York’s Times square yesterday.