Van Plows into Group Killing Two Children in New York’s Chinatown

Two children were killed and a third was seriously injured when a van struck a group of people on a sidewalk in New York City’s busy Chinatown Thursday morning, said police.

Police say the two children were standing among a group of 14 children who were walking back from a library to a day-care center in Manhattan’s Chinatown commercial district shortly before noon Thursday.

A gray of silver Chevrolet van swerved out of control at 11:31 a.m. Tuesday morning after making a U-turn at 38 East Broadway, according to witnesses of the accident and police. The van, from the China Chalet at 47 Broadway, skipped over a curb and struck at least five children on the sidewalk. 14 of the children were treated for minor injuries at Bellevue Hospital, according to spokesman David Zackin.

There are conflicting reports on how the accident occurred.

The van driver told authorities that before the accident occurred he had made a U-turn on the street and then pulled over to make a delivery. When the driver exited the van the engine was still running and it continued to move, plowing into the group.

Police later said they believed that the van was backing up when it jumped the curb and hit the group.

After the accident, the driver, who wore a black hooded jacket, was escorted by police to a police car and taken away from the scene, witnesses said. The driver was being questioned by police.