New York pedestrians mowed down

THREE people have been hit by a van that careered through crowds in New York this evening.

They were stuck when the motor mounted the kerb near Madison Square Garden in central Manhattan at 5.30pm.

It hit as the junction at West 31st Street and Seventh Avenue was packed with pedestrians during the evening rush hour, reports The Sun.

Witnesses described hearing panicked screams as it ploughed along the pavement before speeding off.

One said: "Literally just finished crossing the street in front of Penn Station when a car slammed into people. Heard the hit, screams and ran for it".

Another said: "I saw it happen. The van rammed through the intersection through a crowd.

"I saw 3 people get hit. I didn't see the van stop."

Footage posted on Twitter shows injured people lying across the road as paramedics rush to help them.

Police have the driver in custody and charges are pending. And NYPD spokesman said that the driver remained at the scene.

A red van can be seen stationary about 50 yards further down the road.

Two women and one man were taken to the nearby Bellevue Hospital with minor injuries, police said.

NYPD sources told NBC New York that the crash was the result of a tragic accident - as the floor mat got caught under the brake.

The driver was seen being arrested as officers sealed off the road.

This story first appeared in The Sun.