Two women were killed and several other people injured after an 81-year-old man driving a Mercedes-Benz plowed into pedestrians and multiple vehicles at a busy New York City intersection Friday afternoon, leaving behind a scene of destruction captured on surveillance video.
The deadly crash happened around 2:15 p.m. on October 9 at the intersection of Allerton Avenue and Holland Avenue in the Bronx, where several pedestrians were crossing the street.
Authorities have identified the women who died as 39-year-old Angel Johnson and 57-year-old Robin Kennedy.
Two other women were seriously hurt, including an 84-year-old who remained in critical condition Saturday. A 60-year-old woman was listed in stable condition.
The crash unfolded when a white Mercedes-Benz driven by an 81-year-old man suddenly accelerated westbound on Allerton Avenue toward the intersection.
According to police, the Mercedes struck four women before slamming into vehicles stopped near the traffic light, setting off a violent chain-reaction collision involving five cars.
The impact sent pedestrians tumbling into the roadway and left several vehicles badly damaged.
Early reports suggested the driver had been attempting to beat a red light. However, investigators later said he may have experienced a medical episode that caused him to lose control of the car.
Authorities have not yet determined exactly what caused the sudden acceleration.
Surveillance footage obtained by local television stations shows the frightening moments as the white luxury sedan speeds toward the intersection.
The vehicle appears to accelerate rapidly before striking people in the crosswalk and crashing into other cars.
The force of the collision was so powerful that some victims were thrown across the roadway, while personal belongings were scattered around the crash scene.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as bystanders rushed to help the injured.
“When I looked at the video, they flew pretty far,” witness Mojalli Al-Abdi told NBC New York.
He described seeing one victim thrown a considerable distance from a crosswalk.
Another witness, Abdul Titumir, said the elderly driver repeatedly claimed he had been unable to stop the vehicle.
“He couldn’t stop,” Titumir recalled.
The witness said it was unclear whether the Mercedes had experienced a mechanical problem or whether another factor caused the driver to lose control.
Police are also examining the possibility that the motorist suffered a medical emergency moments before the collision.
Emergency responders flooded the area following multiple 911 calls reporting pedestrians struck and several vehicles involved in a serious crash.
Firefighters, police officers and emergency medical technicians worked to treat the injured while securing the intersection.
The New York City Fire Department reported that emergency crews responded to a mass-casualty incident involving multiple patients.
The four women who were struck were transported to NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi, commonly known as Jacobi Medical Center, in the Bronx.
Despite efforts to save them, Johnson and Kennedy were pronounced dead at the hospital.
An 84-year-old woman suffered critical injuries, while a fourth pedestrian, 60, was expected to recover.
Several people traveling in the vehicles involved in the collision were also taken to the hospital for treatment.
Those additional victims, including the Mercedes driver, were reported to be in stable condition.
The elderly motorist reportedly remained conscious and alert following the collision and suffered only minor injuries.
Investigators said everyone involved remained at the scene.
Police officers closed off the intersection with yellow crime scene tape as investigators examined the damaged vehicles, collected evidence and began reconstructing the sequence of events.
Photographs from the aftermath showed several cars scattered around the intersection while officers documented the scene.
Personal belongings, including a pair of sunglasses, could be seen lying near the crosswalk where pedestrians had been struck.
For residents and business owners in the Allerton neighborhood, the crash was particularly alarming because it happened in broad daylight at an intersection regularly used by pedestrians and motorists.
Nearby business owners described hearing the commotion and seeing emergency vehicles converge on the area.
Some establishments reportedly experienced damage from debris thrown during the collisions.
According to News 12, sources familiar with the investigation said three of the pedestrians who were struck were members of the same family, although authorities have not publicly confirmed the relationships among the victims.
The possibility that multiple relatives were involved has added another heartbreaking dimension to an already devastating tragedy.
As investigators continue their work, several important questions remain unanswered.
Police have not established whether the driver’s sudden acceleration was caused by a medical emergency, a mechanical failure, driver error or another factor.
Investigators are expected to review surveillance footage, witness statements and physical evidence from the vehicles as they determine what caused the Mercedes to travel through the intersection.
Determining whether a medical episode occurred could prove especially important in establishing the circumstances surrounding the deadly collision.
New York police routinely investigate fatal traffic crashes to determine whether criminal conduct, traffic violations or other circumstances contributed to the deaths.
However, a fatal crash does not automatically mean a driver will face criminal charges.
As of Saturday, October 10, police had not announced any arrests or criminal charges in connection with the incident.
The investigation remains ongoing.
For the families of Angel Johnson and Robin Kennedy, the tragedy has turned an ordinary Friday afternoon into an unimaginable loss.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.