An auto wreck on the Brooklyn Bridge killed one person Wednesday and sparked a fire that engulfed three vehicles and cut off a key New York City artery at the start of the morning commuting rush on one of the busiest travel days of the year.
The fiery 7 a.m. crash on the Brooklyn-bound side of the bridge sent a column of black smoke rising above the landmark span. Motorists blocked by the wreck got out their cars to watch a swarm of firefighters work to extinguish the blaze.
Fire officials said six people were injured in addition to the person killed.
The entire bridge was closed to traffic for about an hour. Major traffic tie-ups continued to spill onto surrounding roads as it was reopened, beginning with the Manhattan-bound lanes.
Photographs posted by bystanders on social media showed the charred hulks of three vehicles and a fourth a few strides away with body damage.
The wreck happened on a portion of the bridge over land on the Brooklyn side of the East River, near where drivers turn on to exit ramps and surface roads. The fire was a few feet from a spot where throngs of tourists enter the bridge’s pedestrian and cycling path.
UPDATE The NYPD released the following information to YWN on Wednesday evening:
Upon arrival, police discovered six vehicles involved in the collision including three vehicles on fire. FDNY responded and upon extinguishment of the fire discovered a 32-year-old male unconscious and unresponsive who was pronounced deceased at the scene.
A preliminary investigation revealed that a 48-year-old operator of a 2004 Ford pick-up was traveling Brooklyn bound on the bridge when it rear-ended a 2017 Nissan, which caused the Nissan to strike the center median.
After the initial collision, the Ford rear-ended a 2017 Volkswagon, which caused the Volkswagon to strike the southside cement barrier and then caught fire.
The Volkswagon rear-ended a fourth vehicle, a 2006 GMC SUV, who struck the rear of a 2003 GMC SUV, which then struck the rear of a 2010 Jeep Liberty.
The operator of the Ford pick-up truck and a 51-year-old operator of the 2006 GMC SUV were removed to Brooklyn Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. All other persons involved in the collision refused medical attention at the scene.
There are no arrests and the investigation remains ongoing by the NYPD’s Highway Collision Investigation Squad.
The deceased driver was from the 2017 Volkswagon, and has been identified as Kristopher Hambas, 32, from Scarsdale NY.
Huge fire on Brooklyn bridge. Heard a bang and here it is. #NYC pic.twitter.com/bDBUSdytw4
— Alex Yaggy (@alexyaggy) November 21, 2018
BREAKING NEWS on #brooklynbridge We count 4 cars involved in fiery crash that has STOPPED traffic on both the Brooklyn & Manhattan bound sides. pic.twitter.com/iHF36RzN3B
— MARISSA TORRES PIX11 (@MarissaTorresTV) November 21, 2018
A dificult update to Breaking news on #brooklynbridge : EMS now confirming 1 dead, 5 injured in this horrible crash. 4 cars involved – firefighters just now getting those flames under control. Bridge remains shut down in both directions pic.twitter.com/w0mCGWvbAa
— MARISSA TORRES PIX11 (@MarissaTorresTV) November 21, 2018
(AP)
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One Response
We wish everyone a speedy recovery.
I have a feeling that some of the drivers may have been driving too close to the car in front of them. I think we all can benefit from a “Defensive Driving” course.
A speedy recovery to the injured.