Ten people have been reported injured following a road accident involving a police vehicle on Thursday, Oct. 6, at around 3 p.m. at the intersection of Westchester Avenue and Hoe Avenue in the Foxhurst section of The Bronx, just southeast of Crotona Park East.

 

Citizens’ App users shared live footage of cordoned-off streets, a large crowd gathered, and multiple members of the NYPD at the location, in the 41st Precinct, after the incident occurred.

Police initially confirmed in relation to the injured, “No one is likely at this time,” meaning all victims were expected to survive the accident.

 

According to users of the Citizens App, multiple people were transported to hospital. Norwood News contacted the emergency services for clarification of the situation. We did not receive an immediate response.

 

An NYPD spokesperson later confirmed to Norwood News by phone that an incident did occur at the location, that there were ten injured people, including two police officers, and that full details were provided at an earlier press conference, a video of which is attached further below.

 

NYPD chief of patrol, Chief Jeffrey Maddrey, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson and other members of the NYPD, including the commanding officer from the 41st Precinct, were present at the press conference.

 

Stressing that his remarks were preliminary and that the investigation into the incident was still underway, Maddrey said that at around 3.10 p.m. on Oct. 6, officers from the 41st Precinct were responding to a call regarding a stolen vehicle. “We had a marked four by four, headed northbound on Westchester Avenue.” he explained.

 

“When they got to the intersection of Hoe Avenue, there was a vehicle right in front of them. The officers crossed over the double-yellow line to go around the vehicle but the vehicle made a left-hand turn, at which point the department vehicle and the civilian vehicle…they clipped each other.”

 

He continued, The front-ends clipped each other and it caused the RMP [police vehicle] to veer off further to its left, further northbound, more to the sidewalk on Hoe Avenue, where approximately six pedestrians, six civilians were standing in front of the location.”

 

Watch as @NYPDChiefPatrol provide an update on an incident in the confines of the @NYPD41Pct. pic.twitter.com/5nHpQiq5ZG

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) October 6, 2022

 

“The pedestrians were struck by the department vehicle,” Maddrey added. “Other members of the department immediately responded. They immediately started providing aide to the civilians, along with other members of the community that were out here. The two officers in the vehicle sustained some injuries, as well as the vehicle that was involved in the incident with the marked police car.”

 

He said a total of 10 people were injured, the oldest being 65 and the youngest being 5 years old on the sidewalk and a two-year-old in the civilian vehicle.

 

The police chief said the NYPD Collision Investigation Unit was conducting an investigation. “They will continue to talk to witnesses,” he said. “They’ll continue to find video, and they’ll continue to piece together exactly what happened here.” Maddrey added, “Our officers were diligent in responding,” adding that unfortunately, the accident occurred during the course of the response. “The vehicle actually did get stolen.” he said. “We were never able to get there.”

 

In response to a question, which was inaudible, the police chief said that “the marked police car was close up against a wall and there were people there.” He reiterated that further details would be uncovered in the investigation.

 

In response to another question, Maddrey said “no chase at all” occurred and commended the responding officers from the 41st Precinct, saying, “They were trying to prevent that crime. They were trying to apprehend someone. Unfortunately, the accident allowed the person to steal the vehicle.”

 

He also said that the officers had to abandon the pursuit and get into life-saving mode to attend to the victims, all of whom he said were transported to local hospitals.

 

“Of course, we don’t want to see anyone injured, especially when they were trying to do the right thing. They were trying to prevent a crime in progress.” Maddrey said. “They were trying to apprehend someone who was ready to victimize a good person in The Bronx. Unfortunately, this collision occurred, and people were injured, including the two officers, but we know they’re getting the best medical care right now and we just pray for everybody, the officers and the families.”

 

Maddrey concluded, in response to another question, saying, “Lights and signs were on the [police] vehicle, yes.”

 

He also clarified at the end of the press conference, in terms of the injured, that two were considered critical and everybody else was “not likely,” meaning they should survive the incident.