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MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) — A tourist was killed and her husband was critically injured after they were struck by a vehicle in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday, according to police.
It happened at 40th Street and Fifth Avenue at 2:40 p.m.
Police said a blue Toyota Sienna hit the pedestrians, who are believed to be tourists from Germany, before fleeing the scene.
The 50-year-old woman died at the scene and her husband is in critical condition at Bellevue Hospital with a skull fracture, officials said.
The driver tried to avoid blocking a box truck, hit reverse and as the box truck was coming up behind it, barreled toward the light.
“At the time he was backing up – that’s the time the truck coming faster. You know running faster. You know he’s backing up and this one coming that’s why the shock it was so horrible,” eyewitness Coly Houssain said.
The married couple who were crossing the street was sandwiched between the two vehicles and the driver of the minivan immediately took off, police said.
“From my angle, he just sped off. You hear a loud crash and then the tires screeching and then he turned the corner and just headed off just hauling,” eyewitness Simeon Holman said.
Rosa Paredes saw the incident from her parked ice cream truck.
“The minivan stopped when the light was yellow and backed up because it was in the middle,” Paredes said.
It didn’t take long for cops to catch up with him, only a few blocks away at 8th Avenue and West 38th Street where the van was found with a dented bumper.
Police charged the driver, a 40-year-old man, after taking him into custody.
The identity of the victim has not been released.
“Lady was on the ground like couldn’t be saved. It was just so tragic that she was lying on the floor like that. You don’t think it’s real or wanna think it’s real,” a witness said.
The investigation is ongoing.
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