Car crashes into outdoor dining in NYC leaving at least 7 injured

At least seven people were injured after a van crashed into an outdoor dining area and bus stop in New York City Friday morning. 

ABC’s New York City affiliate WABC-TV reported that five adults and two children suffered injuries after the van crashed at 50th Street and 2nd Avenue on the East Side of Manhattan.  

Four of those injured were taken to the hospital, though the injuries were believed to be non-life-threatening, according to the local news outlet. 

CBS affiliate radio station WCBS reported that a white delivery van hit another car before driving into a bus stop, taking down the street corner’s traffic pole and crashing into the dining area. 

The city’s emergency management system alerted residents about the crash and urged them to take alternative routes as emergency personnel responded to the collision. 

.@FDNYAlerts Activity: Expect traffic delays, road closures & emergency personnel near East 50th Street & 2nd Avenue, Manhattan. Use alternate routes.

— NYCEM – Notify NYC (@NotifyNYC) March 5, 2021

WABC-TV reported that 2nd Avenue was closed southbound at East 50th Street until further notice. 

Video footage and photos shared by users on Twitter showed the New York City road backed up as ambulances and other first responders arrived at the scene. 

Whoa a car slammed into outdoor dining area on 50th and 2nd where Starbucks is. Everything backed up in NYC. pic.twitter.com/x93GdYjeRh

— Krypto Katch (@jkatcher74) March 5, 2021

Manhattan *Serious MVA* Box 0843. E 50th St & 2nd Ave. Car plowed into outdoor dining, numerous injuries pic.twitter.com/kAPyXzjt2U

— NYCFireWire (@NYCFireWire) March 5, 2021

According to WABC-TV, the New York City Fire Department has secured the scaffolding and debris in the area and also asked the Department of Buildings to conduct a structural integrity check of the building where the crash occurred. 

The driver of the van is currently in police custody to undergo questioning, the ABC affiliate reported.