NEW YORK - One person is dead and 23 people are injured after being struck by a car in New York City's central Times Square shortly before noon Thursday (11pm Thailand time).
An 18-year-old woman was killed and 22 people were injured - including the victim's 13-year-old sister - after being struck by a red Honda Accord before it came to a stop by crashing into steel barriers at 45th Street and 7th Avenue, city Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
"This is not an act of terror," de Blasio said.
"The driver, 26-year-old Richard Rojas of New York, has a criminal record and two prior arrests for driving while intoxicated", New York police commissioner James O'Neill said.
Rojas was in custody and is being tested for drugs and alcohol.
Rojas is a US citizen and a former member of the US Navy, de Blasio said.
"As he approaches 42nd Street, he makes a quick U-turn, proceeds on sidewalk for three and a half blocks where he hits a stanchion," said the police chief Of Manhattan detectives William Aubry.
"The driver tried to run from the scene and the bouncer from Planet Hollywood hit him, so we jumped on top of him and ripped his shirt, wanted to make sure he had no gun or knife on him," a tour bus ticket agent told CBS2 TV station.