A man suspected of driving a stolen SUV struck a group of pedestrians on a sidewalk while fleeing from police Tuesday on a busy street near the Grand Central Terminal, New York authorities said.
Ten people were injured in the incident, described by onlookers as chaotic, and all are expected to survive. Most victims received cuts and bruises and the worst of the injuries was a fractured ankle, police and fire officials said at an evening news conference at the scene.
Police said a license plate scanner alerted officers Tuesday evening to a vehicle that was reported stolen in the Bronx a day earlier. Officers tried to stop the SUV, which initially appeared to be pulling over, police said. However, the vehicle drove off, struck a bicyclist and a taxi and then went up on a sidewalk and hit pedestrians while making a U-turn, police said. The SUV then drove the wrong way on the street and struck another vehicle head-on. Officers said the SUV’s speeds were low because of traffic.
Police said a 20-year-old man was driving the SUV and bystanders detained him until officers arrived.
Video footage shows onlookers tackling the suspect as he tries to run and pinning him to the ground. Police say the man did not have a New York driver’s license.
While the New York Police Department has not yet responded to USA TODAY’s request for updates, New York Daily News reported that there was another person riding in the vehicle, who jumped out and ran away.
Police did not take questions at the news conference and said the investigation was ongoing.
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