Bronx, New York — Two women were killed and several other people were injured after an 81-year-old driver allegedly ran a red light and struck pedestrians at a Bronx intersection before colliding with multiple vehicles, according to police.
The crash happened around 2:15 p.m. on Friday, October 9, at the intersection of Allerton Avenue and Holland Avenue. A New York Police Department (NYPD) spokesperson confirmed the incident to PEOPLE, saying officers responded after receiving a 911 call about the collision.
The driver, who was operating a Mercedes-Benz C300, allegedly struck several pedestrians before hitting three cars. The impact triggered a chain-reaction crash involving another nearby vehicle, leaving multiple people injured.
Two Women Die After Being Taken to Hospital
Police identified the two women who died as 39-year-old Angel Johnson and 57-year-old Robin Kennedy, both residents of the Bronx. According to authorities, both women were transported to Jacobi Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead.
At the scene, officers found four pedestrians suffering from various injuries. Three of them were described as “unconscious and unresponsive with trauma to the head and body.”
Emergency medical personnel transported a total of nine people to Jacobi Medical Center following the collision. The incident remains under investigation as authorities work to establish the full sequence of events that led to the deadly crash.
How the Bronx Intersection Crash Unfolded
According to police, the Mercedes first struck a 39-year-old woman who was walking through the eastern crosswalk at the intersection.
The vehicle then allegedly continued through a steady red light and struck three additional pedestrians in the western crosswalk: a 57-year-old woman, a 60-year-old woman and an 84-year-old woman.
After hitting the pedestrians, the Mercedes collided with three other vehicles. One of those cars was pushed into another nearby vehicle, contributing to the chain-reaction collision.
Witnesses said additional pedestrians were struck as a result of the vehicles colliding. The crash also damaged nearby businesses, with several storefront windows reportedly blown out during the incident.
Injuries Reported Among Pedestrians and Drivers
Police provided updates on the conditions of several people involved in the crash. The 84-year-old female pedestrian remained in critical condition, while the 60-year-old female pedestrian was reported to be in stable condition.
The 81-year-old male driver and his 84-year-old female passenger were also reported to be in stable condition.
Three other vehicle operators — a 55-year-old man, a 61-year-old woman and a 71-year-old woman — were reported to be in stable condition. Authorities have not announced any arrests in connection with the collision.
Witnesses Describe a Traumatic Scene
People who witnessed the crash described a frightening scene as pedestrians were struck and vehicles collided at the busy Bronx intersection.
“I saw multiple people get hit by a car, and it was horrific,” one eyewitness told. Abdul Titumir, a local resident remembered Angel Johnson as a friendly person who regularly interacted with people in the neighborhood.
“She’d always walk around the neighborhood, say hello to everybody all the time. So friendly,” Titumir said.
He added that Johnson frequently spoke with him as she passed his workplace near the intersection of Allerton and Holland avenues. Titumir said he had worked at a store there for more than 30 years. Another man who worked nearby described the aftermath as “traumatizing.”
“Everybody was screaming — the past 35 years I been in the avenue, I never seen like that,” he said.
The accounts from witnesses highlight the sudden and devastating impact the collision had on pedestrians, nearby workers and residents.
NYPD Investigation Continues
The NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad is investigating the crash.
Police have not announced any arrests, and the circumstances surrounding the collision remain under investigation. Authorities have not released further details about whether additional charges could follow.
Investigators will continue examining the events leading up to the crash, including the reported red-light violation and the sequence of vehicle collisions.
The deaths of Johnson and Kennedy have left their Bronx community mourning as investigators work to determine exactly what happened at the intersection.
What changes do you think could help make busy city intersections safer for pedestrians? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
