A man driving a U-Haul truck struck and injured several pedestrians in New York City on Monday before police were able to pin the vehicle against a building following a miles-long pursuit through Brooklyn.
At least eight people were hurt at two locations, including two people who were in critical condition, the New York City Fire Department said in a statement.
The truck sped through the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn, hitting people on a sidewalk at one point before police stopped it more than 3 miles away near the entrance to a tunnel leading from Brooklyn to Manhattan.
In the news: Philadelphia Man Arrested After Breaking Into Florida Fire Station, Ransacking Post-Super Bowl
Aerial video from news helicopters showed the truck on a sidewalk, its path blocked by a police cruiser. Authorities were examining the truck to make sure it didn’t contain explosives.
A spokesperson for New York City Mayor Eric Adams said a suspect was in custody. “There are no additional credible threats at this time,” Fabien Levy tweeted.
The incident coincided with the start of the death penalty phase in the trial of Sayfullo Saipov, an Islamic extremist who killed eight people in 2017 by mowing them down with a rented truck.
It was not clear whether the two events were related.
Senior law enforcement officials identified the driver as 62-year-old Weng Sor.
He had returned to the area after renting the truck from Daytona Beach on Jan. 23 and presumably driving it across the county.
In the news: No Answers In Murder Of 21-Year-Old Handicapped Florida Woman Danielle Blackburn
According to a senior law enforcement official, Sor was arrested earlier this month in South Carolina for reckless driving and released on bail. He may have been living out of the truck.
At the time of his arrest, Sor allegedly told arresting officers he wanted to die.
“We have no idea of motives at this time but this wasn’t an accident,” Councilman Justin Brannan, who represents Red Hook, tweeted.
Gov. Kathy Hochul tweeted as well, saying she was briefed on the unfolding situation and would be coordinating with the NYPD as needed.
Android Users, Click Here To Download The Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook Here Or Twitter Here. Signup for our free newsletter by clicking here.