Two seriously injured victims and a suspect who ‘wanted to die’: what we know about the Brooklyn U-Haul ‘out of control’

Several people were hit by a U-Haul truck in Brooklyn, New York, in a chaotic “hustle” that was caught on surveillance cameras.

Several pedestrians were hit by the vehicle and a cyclist was dragged by the truck on Monday morning.

The incident occurred around 11 am at different locations near 5th Avenue and the Bay Ridge Parkway, the NYPD said.

That’s all we know so far.

No indication of horror connection

Keechant Sewell, the New York City Police Commissioner, said during a press conference on Monday afternoon that there is no indication that it is related to terrorism. She added that they have seven locations to process in their investigation, adding that eight people were injured, including a police officer.

′′ The vehicle that was stopped was stopped as a result of hitting several people. It stopped here behind us”, said the commissioner.

Mrs. Sewell spoke about 30 meters in front of where the U-Haul was stopped, at the entrance to the Battery Tunnel that connects Brooklyn and Manhattan. Before his press conference, The Independent witnessed police officers inspecting the back of the truck. NYPD bomb squad officers were on the scene.

“At this time, we have no indication that there was any terrorist involvement in this incident,” Commissioner Sewell told the assembled press. “However, as always, we will continue to investigate this incident with the full resources of the NYPD and our partners. What we saw today is a clear example of why, every moment of every day, the NYPD must be prepared for every possibility.”

The commissioner said the NYPD became involved with the vehicle after it hit people, adding that the suspect’s name and age will not be released at this time.

Two victims in serious condition

Eight people were injured, two critically, two seriously and four with minor injuries, according to NBC.

The driver was then arrested near the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, according to New York City Councilman Justin Brannan.

He tweeted: “A man driving a U-Haul went on a rampage in Bay Ridge… Several people were hit and seriously injured. We have no idea why at this point, but it was not an accident.”

The truck hit several people after driving on the sidewalks of Bay Ridge, ABC7 reported.

One of the injured was a 30-year-old man who was taken to hospital in critical condition. Three men riding a motorcycle suffered minor injuries after being hit by the truck.

surrounded by the police

The driver exited onto the Gowanus Expressway after the accidents and took the Hamilton Avenue exit before being surrounded by police on Columbia Street in Red Hook.

“The police stopped this driver and tried to get him to pull over, and at that point he said something like ‘I want to die’ and started driving on the sidewalks of Bay Ridge,” Brannan said, according to ABC7.

A bomb squad was called to the scene, but nothing suspicious was found. The suspect is allegedly a homeless person who may be living in the U-Haul truck. He was taken to the hospital for a psychological evaluation, the agency said.

‘No additional credible threats’

A spokesman for New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he had been briefed on the incident and that “there are no additional credible threats.”

The incident “seemed random, but it was obviously on purpose,” Brannon told NY1. “This driver knew what he was doing, he knew he was hitting people.”

The Coldwell Banker real estate office is located at Fifth Avenue and Bay Ridge Avenue. officials said The New York Times newspaper that they heard something outside that sounded like something being dragged by a truck. As they left the building, they saw a man lying in the street.

Amanda Perez called 911 and a volunteer ambulance service, but was unable to get through.

“I was shocked,” she told the newspaper. “It was horrific to see him in that condition and think that someone could flee the scene. It’s devastating.”