Times Square crash: Driver 'heard voices'
It came to a crumpled standstill with smoke and flames escaping the bonnet. Afterwards, victims lay on the ground, many of them separated from their scattered shoes and belongings, as medical staff, police officers and passersby tried to assist them. One pregnant woman at the scene said: “A man pulled me out of the way of the car. I think he saved my life.” Media reports say a ticket agent and a worker at Planet Hollywood restaurant were among the people who helped police subdue and detain Mr Rojas. The Planet Hollywood worker, Ken Bradix, told Associated Press: “He began screaming, no particular words but just utter screaming. He was swinging his arms at the same time. There was something wrong with him.” The incident evoked recent terrorist attacks by vehicle in London, Nice and Berlin but New York mayor Bill de Blasio said there was “no indication” it was an act of terrorism.
What do we know of Rojas? According to media reports, he has a history of offending: – He was arrested for threatening a man with a knife earlier this month – He was arrested for drunk driving in 2015 – He spent two months in a military prison in South Carolina, in 2013 – it is not clear why – In 2012, he attacked a taxi driver at a naval base in Florida, shouted “my life is over” and threatened to kill police – after which he was charged with misdemeanour battery and resisting an officer without violence – He was arrested for drunk driving in 2008
Police believe he was high on synthetic marijuana, known as K2, ABC News reports, citing law enforcement sources. Initial tests reportedly came back negative for alcohol but positive for drugs. One neighbour told Reuters Mr Rojas had come back from serving in the navy with a drinking problem. Harrison Ramos, who lives in Mr Rojas’s building in the Bronx, said: ” He went through a real tough time. Don’t make him out to be a terrorist or something. He served his country and when he came back, nobody helped him. “That’s my friend. I care about him, and it hurts.” One investigator told the New York Times Mr Rojas had so far offered no coherent explanation, and was “just rambling and saying crazy stuff”. Source BBC
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Steven Effah is a writer with 3news.com. Follow him on X, @effah-steven and LinkedIn: Steven Effah