The motive force who was behind the wheel of a dashing automobile that struck and killed two folks in Chinatown over the weekend was arrested and faces a slew of fees together with homicide, in response to police.
Autumn Donna Ascencio Romero was stated to be driving a Chevy Malibu as she raced off the Manhattan Bridge Saturday morning, police stated. One witness stated the automobile might have been going over 70 mph coming off the span, then misplaced management earlier than placing a person on his bicycle and a lady sitting on a bench. An NYPD van was additionally knocked into a close-by jewellery retailer.
Romero and the passenger, Kennedy Lecraft, tried to run from the scene, however police caught up with them a block away.
The 23-year-old Romero faces a litany of fees together with 2 counts every of homicide, manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, aggravated vehicular murder, weapon possession and leaving the scene of an accident. Lecraft, 22, was charged with weapon possession, stolen property possession and unauthorized use of a automobile.
Lawyer data was not instantly accessible for Romero nor Lecraft, the latter of whom was arraigned Monday. The choose set bail at $150,000 money, and Lecraft is subsequent scheduled to look in courtroom on Thursday.
The bike owner, 55-year-old Kevin Cruickshank, was killed, as was 63-year-old Might Kwok of Brooklyn. Cruickshank’s household stated he was an avid bike owner who might usually be noticed in his Morningside Heights neighborhood getting back from an extended bike trip.
“It’s devastating to know he was killed doing something he loved,” his household stated by way of a spokesperson. “Kevin was a regular fixture in the neighborhood, known for his warm, welcoming spirit and love of helping his friends and neighbors.”
Virtually 24 hours after the lethal crash, a second violent crash occurred on the identical Manhattan intersection. Police stated a driver got here careening right into a meals truck and TD Financial institution round 3 a.m. Sunday morning. The operator of the meals truck needed to be transported to the hospital to be handled for minor accidents.