NEW YORK (AP) - Investigators of a horrific Halloween crash that killed three people including a 10-year-old girl are looking at whether a medical problem may have caused a motorist to smash into a group of New York City trick-or-treaters, police said Sunday.
The car jumped a curb in the Bronx on Saturday evening, leaving behind mangled bodies and bloodied costumes as neighbors ran to help. Police were examining whether the driver may have suffered a medical emergency, such as a seizure.
A 65-year-old grandfather, Louis Perez, suffered severe head trauma and died at the scene, police said. His granddaughter, 10-year-old Nyanna Aquil, was pronounced dead at a hospital. The girl's 3-year-old sister was also hospitalized.
Another man, 24-year-old Kristian Leka, was also killed. His 9-year-old sister and a 21-year-old female friend were also injured but not critically.
A black Dodge Charger being driven by a 52-year-old man plowed into the pedestrians on a sidewalk and then smashed through a fence in front of a home, police said. The driver was taken to the hospital in stable condition. No charges had been announced as of Sunday afternoon, police said.
Nyanna's mother, Natalia Perez, told the Daily News that her father had been taking her daughters for some extra Halloween fun.
"It was all because my dad wanted to take my girls for a second round of trick-or-treating," she said. "Isn't that crazy? I had already taken the girls earlier."
Witnesses described hearing a loud boom, followed by screaming and crying, then seeing a trail of mangled bodies in crumpled, bloodied costumes.
"I saw a torso on the sidewalk. I didn't know if it was a Halloween dummy or a real person," neighbor Fabio Cotza told the New York Post.
"I just grabbed a whole bunch of towels and ran outside."
Girl struck by vehicle, dragged by second while trick-or-treating
YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - A 14-year-old Michigan girl was struck by two vehicles and dragged nearly two miles while trick-or-treating on Halloween.
She was in critical condition at a hospital Sunday with undisclosed injuries.
Authorities responding to a report of a traffic accident involving a pedestrian on Saturday night found the Ypsilanti Township girl along a roadway.
A 33-year-man had called 911 after initially hitting the girl, and then a second vehicle then struck the girl and dragged her before she became dislodged, Pittsfield Township Deputy Police Chief Gordy Schick said.
"It's almost unimaginable that you'd get dragged for two miles like that, but it's a good outcome," Schick said. "I know that she's been talking, so she's been able to communicate what was happening."
A motorist that was driving behind the second vehicle told police he noticed something being dragged.
"He thought it was a Halloween prank or a possible animal trapped underneath," Schick said.
That driver had to slam on his brakes after the girl came free of the car. He and a passing sheriff's deputy helped the girl until paramedics arrived.
It was dark and raining at the time the girl was hit. She was crossing a road, but not in a crosswalk, and was wearing dark clothing.
The driver of the second car had not been found as of early Sunday afternoon.
Reports of Halloween candy with "needle-type' object probed
KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. (AP) - Authorities in Pennsylvania and Minnesota are investigating reports of needle-like objects found in Halloween candy while police in Massachusetts say someone left out samples of cough syrup for trick-or-treaters.
Police in the Philadelphia suburb of Kennett Square said a "needle-type item" was reported inside wrapped candy bars given to five children Saturday.
Investigators said Sunday the candy and packaging containing the objects have been submitted for examination. They urged parents to check all candy their children were given and any leftover candy bought to give to trick-or-treaters.
Police in central Minnesota also were investigating after a woman reported finding a needle in her child's candy on Halloween. The woman in Brainerd said she found the needle in a small candy bar while inspecting the candy in her child's bag.
In North Reading, Massachusetts, near Boston, police said they received reports of a home there leaving out samples of Hyland's 4 Kids Cold "n Mucus cough syrup on Saturday.
No injuries were reported in any of the incidents.