6 Hurt When Van Plows Through Queens Park, Crashes Into Pond
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Multiple people were hurt when a van plowed through a park in Queens.
Authorities said the white van was traveling on Brookville Boulevard near South Conduit Avenue around 7:30 p.m. Saturday when it slammed into several pedestrians and parked cars in Brookville Park, before crashing into a pond.
Police said a total of six people were hurt, including the driver.
A 19-year-old woman suffered head trauma and was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in critical condition, police said. An 18-year-old man was also taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center with a minor injury to his leg.
Three other victims were taken to Northwell Health-Long Island Jewish Medical Center for observation, police said.
"They actually got tossed into the air, like 6-10 feet," witness Sean Hines told CBS2's Jessica Borg. "After the van hit the car, the van ran over the same girl that was tossed up in the air."
"Just crazy. Everybody was in the water, they jumped in the water and got that guy out," bicyclist Michael Daly said.
The driver was pulled from the pond and taken into custody.
"The police subdued him and had him on the floor, and he was kicking and screaming and kicking and trying to get away," another witness said.
"The good thing is that they caught him," a man added.
Witnesses told Borg the driver had on pastor's robes and was making religious references, among other statements.
"'Everything I own is in this van, everything I own is in this van!' He repeated it, repeated it, repreated it," one man said. "'Everything I own is in this van!' And he just kept saying, 'praise Jesus' with his hands up and his big long robe -- 'Hallelujah, praise Jesus, Hallelujah, praise Jesus!'"
Police said charges are pending.
