NEW YORK — Two women were killed and several other people were injured on Friday afternoon when an elderly motorist barreled through a busy intersection in the Bronx, striking pedestrians in a crosswalk and triggering a multi-vehicle collision, authorities said.
The crash happened shortly after 2 p.m. near the intersection of Allerton and Holland avenues in the Allerton neighborhood of the east Bronx, according to the New York City Police Department. Surveillance footage reviewed by local news outlets showed a white Mercedes-Benz accelerating through the intersection before hitting pedestrians and slamming into traffic waiting at a red light.
Deadly impact in crosswalk
Police said the Mercedes struck four women who were crossing the street. Two of the women, ages 39 and 57, suffered severe trauma to their heads and bodies and were later pronounced dead at a hospital, News 12 Bronx reported. Early reports had indicated at least one fatality before police confirmed a second death, according to The Guardian and FOX 5 New York.
An 84-year-old pedestrian remained in critical condition on Friday night, while a 60-year-old pedestrian was expected to recover, News 12 reported. Sources close to the investigation told the outlet that three of the pedestrians were members of the same family. Initial reports cited by The Guardian noted the victims were taken to Jacobi Medical Center.
The force of the collision extended into the surrounding area, blowing out front windows of nearby commercial storefronts, according to ABC7 Eyewitness News.
Chain reaction damages five vehicles
After hitting the pedestrians, the Mercedes rear-ended two cars with enough power to propel them into two additional vehicles, investigators said. In total, five vehicles were caught in the pileup, according to FOX 5 New York.
Six people riding in the involved vehicles, including the 81-year-old driver of the Mercedes, were transported to area hospitals in stable condition, police told reporters. Witnesses described an overwhelming scene immediately following the impact.
“I saw everybody get hit by a car, multiple people get hit by a car, and it was horrific,” an eyewitness told ABC7 Eyewitness News.
Questions remain over cause
Investigators are still examining what caused the elderly motorist to lose control of his vehicle, with differing accounts emerging in the hours following the tragedy.
According to News 12 Bronx and FOX 5 New York, police sources indicated that the 81-year-old driver appeared to have suffered an acute medical episode, leaving him unable to stop as he traveled westbound toward stopped traffic on Allerton Avenue.
However, The Guardian reported, citing the New York Post, that the driver allegedly told a bystander at the scene that he was attempting to beat a changing traffic signal before the collision occurred.
Police noted that all drivers and occupants remained at the location following the crash. The driver was conscious and alert when speaking with first responders. Authorities had not released the names of the victims or the driver as of Friday evening, and police said no arrests had been made as the investigation continues.
