BROOKLYN, NY — Six people, including two children, were hurt Thursday afternoon when a black sedan drove onto a sidewalk in Bushwick and hit pedestrians during a neighborhood trunk-or-treat event, authorities said.
The crash happened shortly before 4 p.m. outside 480 Knickerbocker Ave., where families were gathered for the community event. Police said a 56-year-old man was driving, with a 46-year-old woman in the passenger seat, when the vehicle veered onto the sidewalk and struck several people and a parked ambulance.
Emergency crews responded to the scene as the crash unfolded in a crowded area. All six victims were reported in stable condition.
Police say the sedan struck pedestrians after mounting the sidewalk
According to police, the sedan did not remain in the roadway. Instead, it went onto the sidewalk and hit people gathered near the event space, turning a family-oriented afternoon into a sudden emergency response.
The collision also involved an ambulance parked near the location. Officials said the ambulance was not an FDNY vehicle and was unoccupied at the time of the crash.
Investigators have not said what led the driver to move onto the sidewalk. Officials also have not said whether another vehicle was involved or whether mechanical problems, driver error or some other factor played a role.
FDNY says the ambulance was parked and unoccupied at the scene
The FDNY said the ambulance struck in the crash was a non-FDNY unit that was parked in front of the location. Because it was not in service at the time, no one was inside when the vehicle was hit.
The collision happened as children and parents were in the area for trunk-or-treat activities, a seasonal community event where families typically gather around decorated vehicles and hand out candy. That setting helps explain why so many bystanders were nearby when the crash happened.
Authorities have not said whether the ambulance was part of the event or simply parked nearby. They also have not described any damage to the vehicle beyond confirming it was involved in the collision.
Victims ranged from a child to an 80-year-old adult
A total of six patients were reported from the scene, including a 6-year-old, an 11-year-old, a 31-year-old, a 53-year-old, a 74-year-old and an 80-year-old, according to officials.
All of the injured people were listed in stable condition. Authorities have not identified any of the victims, and they have not said which injuries each person suffered.
It remains unclear whether all of the children attending the trunk-or-treat event were among those hurt or whether some victims were nearby adults who had been standing along the sidewalk when the sedan struck.
Driver and passenger were taken into custody after the crash
Sources close to FOX 5 New York said the driver and passenger were taken into custody after the incident. The driver is being investigated on suspicion of intoxication, though officials have not announced any charges.
Police have also not said what the passenger’s role may have been in the crash or whether the woman could face any allegations. At this point, authorities are still sorting out the details of what happened before the sedan hit the sidewalk.
The investigation remains open, and officials have not released additional information about testing, charging decisions or a possible timeline for next steps.
Bushwick crash adds to concerns at crowded neighborhood events
The crash took place at a time when the block was filled with people taking part in a local Halloween-season event. In that setting, even a brief loss of control by a vehicle can quickly put pedestrians at risk.
Thursday’s collision brought together several kinds of emergency response: police, firefighters and medical crews all converged after reports that a car had hit people and an ambulance. That response helped stabilize the situation, but many questions remain about how the crash happened.
Officials have not said whether the incident was accidental or intentional. They have also not provided a fuller account of the sequence of events leading up to the sidewalk strike.
