Hit-and-run in Midtown Manhattan kills tourist, injures another
A van struck a German couple near East 40th Street and Fifth Avenue; driver fled the scene and authorities continue investigating.
A hit-and-run in Midtown Manhattan killed a tourist and injured another Wednesday afternoon, authorities said. The crash occurred just before 2:40 p.m. at East 40th Street and Fifth Avenue, when a minivan struck a couple visiting from Hamburg, Germany, and fled the scene. The woman, 50, was pronounced dead at the scene, and the man, 55, was hospitalized in stable condition at Bellevue Hospital, NYPD officials said.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene in one of the city’s busiest corridors. A Nuts4Nuts vendor near the intersection said the van sped away after hitting the couple. One witness account described the man getting out from under the tire and the woman remaining under the van as it reversed. The New York Post reported that the vehicle had a vanity plate reading "TIMES SQUARE," and that investigators were examining a Toyota Sienna as a possible suspect vehicle.
The NYPD said the investigation is being handled by the Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad, and there have been no arrests as of Wednesday evening. The identities of the deceased and injured were being withheld pending family notification, police said. The victims were tourists from Hamburg, Germany.
The crash occurred in Midtown Manhattan, a busy commercial district just blocks from tourism and business hubs. The incident comes as city officials and law enforcement continue to monitor pedestrian safety and traffic enforcement in one of the nation’s busiest corridors.
Authorities have not released further details about the vehicle or motive, and investigators urged anyone with information to contact the NYPD. The case remains active as officials review surveillance video and speak with witnesses.
