After two people are killed and five are injured in a vehicle crash and crowd outside a Rochester, New York, New Year's event, the FBI is looking into the incident
As a New Year’s concert in Rochester, New York was coming to an end, two cars crashed and smashed into a crowd in a fiery catastrophe, killing two people and wounding five more. The FBI is looking into the incident.
Authorities claimed that thousands of people were leaving the Kodak Centre as the celebrations for the new year were clouded by sadness after the terrible incident.
At approximately 12:50 a.m. on Monday, revellers were using a crosswalk outside the venue when a Ford SUV collided with a Mitsubishi Outlander that was departing a neighbouring parking lot, according to Rochester Police Chief David Smith during a press conference on Monday.
According to Smith, the power of the collision sent the cars “through” a gathering of people using the crosswalk.
The driver of the Mitsubishi was transferred to a hospital in a non-life-threatening condition, while two of the passengers died. The chief said that the driver of the Ford was also hospitalised with potentially fatal injuries.
According to Smith, one of the three struck pedestrians was sent to a hospital in critical condition.
The chief stated that “many pedestrians,” one of whom was a Rochester police officer, were on the verge of being hit by the cars.
Found at least twelve canisters of petrol
According to the chief, the incident also started a fire that took nearly an hour for firemen to put out.
First responders discovered “at least a dozen petrol canisters in and around the striking vehicle” after the fire was extinguished, according to the chief.
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“The joint arson task force and the bomb squad of the Rochester Police Department responded to the scene, based on the level of danger associated with these,” Smith went on.
The cause of the collision and the presence of the canisters at the scene are unknown.
“To find out exactly what caused this crash, we are still working with our federal partners, including the FBI,” Smith stated.
The FBI says that it is supporting Rochester police with their investigation through its Buffalo Field Office.
The FBI said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, “Details are limited at this time as we continue to investigate and collaborate with our law enforcement partners.”
pictures from a CNN affiliate Following the collision, scorched red canisters and debris from the vehicle are seen strewn across the road, and WHAM shows a highly damaged and burned black SUV halted in front of another vehicle.
At the news conference on Monday, Rochester Mayor Malik Evans urged patience while the investigation is ongoing, saying that it is crucial that “we give you the information as we have it from a transparency standpoint and a fact-finding standpoint.”
Evans expressed his sympathies to the relatives of the deceased and called for prayers from the public on their behalf as well as on behalf of the injured.
“I would have preferred to stand at this stage, smile, and share some positive news while wishing everyone a happy new year. However, Evans stated, “We have a number of people whose families’ lives have been affected because they will not be around to welcome in 2024.
The band, moe., who had been performing at the location prior to the disaster, expressed their “deep shock and sadness” at the event in a Facebook message.
The band declared, “We are faced instead with a tragedy that defies understanding on a night that was meant for celebration and togetherness.” “Our thoughts are with those who were injured, and our hearts go out to the family and friends of those who lost their lives.”
The Kodak Centre, the Rochester New York FBI, the Rochester Police Department, and the Rochester Fire Department were contacted by CNN for comments, but they did not respond right away.
