A December 11th pedestrian accident in Manhattan sent 5 innocent people to the hospital when a car jumped the curb and struck a group of people in Herald Square. The silver Mustang convertible sped into the crowd just before 10 PM. The driver tried to escape but was unable to because her vehicle was so badly damaged.
A police investigation into the crash revealed that the driver (34-year old Stella Mednic) was drunk with a blood alcohol level two-times the legal limit. Witnesses say Medic crashed into an SUV then pulled a U-turn, speeding away against traffic. She then struck another oncoming car which forced her vehicle into a taxi cab. That collision sent her Mustang onto the sidewalk and into a group of shoppers in front of a store. The car continued on through the storefront’s display window. Unconfirmed eyewitness reports say that a young girl was trapped between the vehicle and the storefront until rescue workers arrived on-scene.
Several victims were rushed to Bellevue Hospital with broken bones, cuts from the storefront’s broken display window, and neck and back injuries. Mednic herself was also transported to the hospital where she was arrested and charged with multiple violations including DUI, unauthorized use of a vehicle, aggravated unlicensed operation, criminal possession of a controlled substance, and leaving the scene of an accident.
This horrific pedestrian accident in Manhattan shows that in the blink of an eye an irresponsible individual behind the wheel of a two-ton weapon can turn a shopping trip into a nightmare, shattering lives and devastating families.
Regardless of the criminal charges filed against Mednic, she could be facing civil lawsuits on behalf of the injured individuals for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages.
If you have been struck by a vehicle while walking in New York, contact a qualified New York City pedestrian accident attorney to discuss all the legal options available to you. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel for a free consultation at or 212-385-1122 to learn your rights.