Out-of-Control SUV Plows Over Kids at NY Church Fundraiser; 1 Killed, 3 Injured
A 15-year-old girl was killed and three other children were injured after an out-of-control SUV plowed into a groups of kids and teens attending a church festival in Yonkers, N.Y. One of the injured children was said to be in critical condition.
The incident occurred on Friday night as the car was exiting a parking lot on McLean Avenue near Coyne Park where a Roman Catholic church, St. Paul the Apostle, was holding an annual fundraiser outdoors, NBC reported.
"It was uncontrollable, it was like somebody was in the car actually trying to hit people," a witness, Vincent Santini, was quoted as saying.
"At first I thought it was just a car accident between two cars, but then I saw it was just one car going and hitting everything in its path," added another witness, Kelly Lewandowski.
The black vehicle hit several more cars before coming to a halt. "She must have been going 50 mph," witness Iliana Ortiz was quoted as saying.
Police estimate there were about 500 people in attendance at the church event, according to The Journal News.
A 15-year-old girl was declared dead at a local hospital. Her sister, of age 12, was said to be in "very critical" condition and was admitted to Jacobi Medical Center in Bronx, N.Y. Two other victims, both 13-year-old, were treated for minor injuries at Lawrence Hospital Center in Bronxville, N.Y.
The girl who died was identified as Kalie Gill by westchester.news12.com. Her sister, who was critical, was identified as Lindsey.
A funeral mass for Gill is being planned at St. Barnabas High School.
Firefighters and a Yonkers police accident investigation unit responded to the scene.
The church event, Octoberfest and Carnival, started at 5 p.m. and featured rides, games and food.
Police are investigating, and could not immediately provide details of the incident.