NYPD: 1 dead, 6 injured in Manhattan sidewalk crash
Seven pedestrians were hit, one fatally, by a car at Canal and Forsyth streets in lower Manhattan on Monday, officials said. Credit: amNY / Colter Hettich
One person was killed and six others were injured Monday evening when a car jumped a curb in lower Manhattan and struck several pedestrians, police and fire officials said.
Zhang Deng Chun, 56, of Queens, was pronounced dead at Canal Street, near Forsyth Street, shortly after the 6:50 p.m. crash, the NYPD said. Four victims — two in critical condition and two in serious condition — were rushed to hospitals, according to the FDNY. Two others sustained minor injuries and refused medical attention at the scene.
The driver, who remained at the scene, was identified early Tuesday as Henry Herman, 70, of Monroe in Orange County. He was charged with seven counts of failure to yield to pedestrians; failure to exercise due care; unsafe backing of vehicle; and driving on or across a sidewalk, police said.
Police said it appeared that Herman lost control and jumped the curb while trying to park in reverse. He was driving in reverse at a crawl until he reached the spot and spun his steering wheel sharply into the space, police said.
Mayor Bill de Blasio promised a "full NYPD investigation" would be conducted.
"We cannot accept loss of life on our streets as inevitable. We will continue working harder every day to reach #VisionZero," the mayor tweeted Monday night, referencing his administration’s initiative to reduce traffic fatalities.
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