Chaos erupted in the Bronx this morning when a black Ford Mustang struck a pedestrian and went on to cause further injury by crashing into a sidewalk shed, hitting five additional people. ABC7 New York reports that the incident commenced around just before 11 a.m. on East 149th Street. After striking the first victim, the driver, in an attempt to flee, lost control, hit the shed, and injured five more bystanders at the corner of E. 149th St. and Cortlandt Ave.
The situation rapidly escalated as those at the scene were left to deal with the immediate aftermath of the crash. The culprits, two suspects, decided to hastily abandon their vehicle and escape on foot. As per CBS News, the driver was still at large after running from the crash site. Emergency services responded, closing off the area, while the Department of Buildings assessed the damage to the sidewalk shed.
All injured parties were transported to Lincoln Hospital and confirmed to be in stable condition despite their ordeal. Official statements noted that the injuries were minor. While the search for the suspects continues, authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Concerning the structural impact, the Department of Buildings determined that the collision dislodged four uprights and cross beams from the scaffolding. "The Buildings Department says the vehicle impacted the shed, dislodging four uprights and cross beams," was reported by ABC7 New York.
Despite this, they have stated that there appear to be no stability issues with the building it encased, which echoes the findings reported by CBS News. The area has since been taped and sealed off to allow for necessary repairs by the shed contractor.
The authorities have not released any further details about the suspects or their motive for fleeing the crash site.
