Car Drives Onto Times Square Sidewalk Kills 1, Injures 22
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NEW YORK CITY (CBSMiami) -- A car plowed through pedestrians in Times Square in New York City Thursday around lunch time.
According to CBS2, one person died and 22 others were injured after the car barreled into pedestrians in the Midtown Manhattan area around 11:55 a.m.
A sedan was seen crashed and on the metal barriers near 46th Street and Broadway (7th Ave) which is typically full of thousands of tourists and business people.
What's happening in Times Square?? This car was in the sidewalk and people are on the streets pic.twitter.com/PsepRtfrAr
— gb (@gb__) May 18, 2017
New York City Firefighters used hoses to put out the blaze in the car.
"I was hanging out, looked down at my phone, next thing I know, boom, like a bomb explosion," said witness Max Padilla.
Police closed off Times Square. NYPD were seen taking a man out of the crashed red 2009 Honda Accord and taking him away.
The suspect in custody is 26-year-old Richard Rojas from the Bronx. He is a U.S. Citizen and is a former member of the United States Armed Forces. Police confirmed Rojas has been arrested before and had two prior DWIs.
Officers have confirmed the motive of the crash did not appear to be terror-related and they believe this is an 'isolated incident.'
Several of the victims are in critical condition.
"I decided to cross the street but, if I hadn't, I'd probably be dead," said witness Annie Donahey.
Police said an 18-year-old woman was killed and her 13-year-old sister was injured and taken to the hospital.
Gov Cuomo speaks with a victim of today's Times Square incident pic.twitter.com/7lXFCniOao
— Melissa DeRosa (@melissadderosa) May 18, 2017
Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill De Blasio were at the scene and briefed by authorities.
During a press conference, Mayor De Blasio said they are investigating this as an accident but will still reinforce security in key places.
"Based on the information we have at this moment, we have no indication that this was an act of terrorism," said De Blasio. "That being said, we are reinforcing key places in the city....major sites in the city will get additional police coverage."
President Trump was 'made aware of the situation in Times Square,' according to White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer.
People in the surrounding area in a number of buildings were placed on lockdown after the incident.