Police have detained and arrested a 26-year-old man after his speeding vehicle jumped the curb and hit pedestrians on the sidewalk at Times Square.
Nearby buildings were placed on lockdown and the New York Police Department closed off the area. The lockdown order was lifted around 12:20 P.M.
The emergency response in New York City’s Times Square was due to an incident involving a car reportedly hitting pedestrians. The New York Police Department says that at least 20 people are injured and receiving treatment.
NYPD said the motive is not terror. The suspect has two previous DWIs and tried to flee the scene, law enforcement sources say.
At least one person has died.
No other details are available at this time.
MORE: At least one person dead after vehicle strikes pedestrians in New York's Times Square – Reuters witness
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 18, 2017
Times Square Car Crash Quick Facts
– 20 injured, one dead.
– 26-year-old man detained and arrested.
– Nearby buildings were placed on lockdown.
– Around 12:20 P.M., police lifted the lockdown order.
– NYPD said the motive is not terror, but possibly a DWI.
A history of drunk driving and a suspended license, a 26 yr old man killed 1 and injured 13 in Times Square. Just ridiculous.
— Jamaal (@Jamaal1919) May 18, 2017
Photos & Videos from Times Square Car Crash
WNBC camera shows emergency vehicles in Times Square after reports of a car running over pedestrians pic.twitter.com/DAxVIURp3H
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) May 18, 2017
Video shows massive police response after car crashes in Times Square, striking multiple pedestrians. https://t.co/O0pXTKDQ3y pic.twitter.com/3WnFfhdo9Y
— ABC News (@ABC) May 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/V_of_Europe/status/865238603802300417
People are laying on the sidewalks in Times Square, a car seems to have run on the sidewalk. pic.twitter.com/g2efKLfoX8
— gb (@gb__) May 18, 2017
1 dead after car plows into pedestrians at New York’s Times Square (WATCH LIVE) https://t.co/LI31Ehdn9e pic.twitter.com/Fci0vsMvVF
— Sheila Weeks (@sheilaweeks) May 18, 2017
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUPV0BKjL-l/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUPWOqLjXWQ/
Is The Times Square Car Crash A Terror Attack?
NYPD say terrorism was not the motive, however, they suspect it may be a DUI.
About Times Square
Times Square is visited by 360,000 people per day, with over 460,000 pedestrians walk through Times Square on its busiest days. Over 131 million people pass through Times Square each year. Formerly known as Longacre Square, Times Square was renamed in 1904 after The New York Times moved its headquarters to the newly erected Times Building – now One Times Square – the site of the annual New Year’s Eve ball drop.
