FBI investigating fiery car crash outside New Year’s concert

The FBI is investigating an explosive car crash early on New Year’s Day that led to two deaths and five injuries, including two in life-threatening condition.

The crash took place just outside the Kodak Center in Rochester, N.Y., where the jazz band moe. was performing for a crowd of about 1,000 people.

Around 12:50 a.m., a Ford Expedition struck a Mitsubishi Outlander that was exiting a nearby parking lot, killing two of the Outlander’s passengers and resulting in a large fire that took the fire department almost one hour to extinguish, Rochester Police Department Chief David Smith confirmed Monday at a press conference.

“Early this morning, the Rochester community suffered another tragedy, as two people were killed and two more are fighting for their life as a result of a motor-vehicle collision on West Ridge Road,” Smith said.

“The force of the collision caused the two vehicles to go through a group of pedestrians that were in the crosswalk and then into two other vehicles,” he added.

At least a dozen gasoline canisters were discovered in and around the vehicle after the fire was extinguished, the chief said.

Three pedestrians and the drivers of the two vehicles were injured in the crash.

Smith said his department is working with federal officials, including the FBI, to determine the cause of the crash. He asked those with information to contact the police.

“The FBI Buffalo Field Office is assisting the Rochester Police Department in the investigation of a motor vehicle collision on West Ridge Road in Rochester,” the FBI said in a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter. “As we continue to investigate and collaborate with our law enforcement partners, details are limited at this time.”

“Obviously, I would have been liking to stand at this podium to deliver Happy New Year in smile and say good news,” Rochester Mayor Malik Evans said at a press conference. “But unfortunately today we don’t have news because we have several individuals whose families’ lives are changed because they will not be here to bring in 2024.”

The band, “moe.,” also issued a statement following the crash, saying “on a night that was meant for celebration and togetherness, we are faced instead with a tragedy that defies understanding.”

“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of those who lost their lives, and our thoughts are with those who were injured,” the band wrote.