Tourist killed and 22 injured as speeding car hits pedestrians in Times Square
One person was killed and 22 others injured after a car drove on to a pavement in New York City’s Times Square yesterday.
The deceased has been identified as 18-year-old Alyssa Elsman, from Portage, Michigan, who was visiting the city.
Police said it was an isolated incident and New York Mayor Bill do Blasio said: "There is no indication that this was an act of terrorism."
The vehicle jumped the kerb at 7th Avenue and West 42nd Street in the busy tourist area and sped along the pavement until 45th Street.
The driver, 26-year-old US Navy veteran Richard Rojas from Brooklyn, is due to appear in court later today charged with second-degree murder, aggravated vehicular homicide and multiple counts of attempted murder
He reportedly told police he had heard voices telling him to hurt people.
The New York Police Department said initial investigations show Rojas has had two previous arrests for driving while intoxicated.
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office yesterday advised visitors to NYC to avoid the immediate area of the incident and follow the advice of the local security authorities and/or their tour operator.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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