NYPD Calls Van Incident That Left 2 Kids Dead an "Accident"

The horrible incident where a van—left empty and running by a driver making a delivery—rolled onto a curb in Chinatown and killed a four-year-old girl and three-year-old boy, plus injured 11 other toddlers and two adults, was deemed an accident by police yesterday. The NYPD did question the van's driver, but spokesman Paul Browne said, "It turns out this was an accident," and, therefore, the driver, who was questioned and whose blood alcohol was negative, will not be charged.

The accident occurred on East Broadway. A group of children from Red Apple Child Development Center and their teachers were back from a field trip at the Chatham Square public library (the NY Times reports, "They had listened to a librarian read the children’s books 'Snow,' about animals in a winter wonderland, and 'Shark in the Park,' about a boy who spots a shark through a telescope). They were on the sidewalk when, the Daily News says, the driver of a van for China Chalet restaurant "got out and thought he had put it in park." The van rolled across the street and pinned the children against the wall. A witness said, "They were hit so hard, the kids, they were bleeding all over. [A teacher] was just yelling 'Help!' and screaming in Chinese. She was stunned. Me - I started to cry."

Hayley Ng, 4, died at the scene, while Diego Martinez, 3, died at NY Downtown Hospital. A third child, Emma Olsen, is in "critical condition at Bellevue Hospital," according to the Post, which adds that the other victims were treated and released from Bellevue. The Red Apple Child Development Center's director issued a statement, "Our hearts go out to the families of all of the children involved and especially to the two families who suffered the loss of their child. We are doing everything possible to provide support to our students, parents, and their loved ones." China Chalet's manager told the Post the incident was "tragic" but also called driver Chao Fu was a "good man." Fu, who lives in Brooklyn, has a clean driving record.

Today, at 12:15 p.m. at the Kim Lau Arch (corner of East Broadway and Bowery), State Senator Squadron, Manhattan Borough President Stringer, and others will "release comprehensive plan for improved pedestrian safety in Chinatown." Yesterday, Stringer had lamented how this area of Manhattan has had the most pedestrian fatalities.