1 woman killed, 1 injured after car slams into Yonkers home
YONKERS, N.Y. -- Police say an investigation will determine if charges are justified in Sunday night's fatal accident.
A speeding car smashed into a house on North Broadway after striking and killing a pedestrian. CBS2 spoke with the heartbroken brother of the victim.
Dave Kenney said a visit to the scene was painful but necessary as he processes the loss of his beloved sister, 70-year-old Chris Kenney-O'Rourke.
"She was gentle, kind, a great big sister. She watched out for everybody. She was like having a second mom," Kenney said.
On Sunday night, Kenney-O'Rourke left her home on Corley Street to go for a walk. Two blocks away on North Broadway, an out-of-control car roared onto the sidewalk, fatally striking her and then hitting a retaining wall.
"The impact of the car -- it was going so fast -- I would say at least 80 to 100," resident Alex Baez said.
The car then launched into a house at the corner of North Broadway and Constant Avenue.
"Flew up into the air and right through my windows," homeowner Rosemary Moray said.
Moray was inside with her sister.
"Everything just came down and crashed on my sister. That was it. Sounded like a big explosion," Moray said.
Moray said her sister will recover and her heart breaks for the deceased victim, who was thrown all the way across the property to the side street.
Kenney-O'Rourke was married to the son of former Yonkers Mayor Dr. James O'Rourke, and active in many community endeavors.
"She's very much involved in the Yonkers Historical Society. She will be missed. My condolences go out to that family. It's a horrible, horrible thing," Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said.
Police say the driver was a 54-year-old woman from White Plains. First responders found her in "an altered state." All the circumstances are under investigation.
Neighbors say speeding is an issue on North Broadway, but it's not clear if tougher enforcement would have prevented Sunday's terrible crash.
Police are performing toxicology on the driver as part of their investigation. The driver is hospitalized with what are described as blunt force injuries.