NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A 23-year-old woman who was allegedly behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle on Saturday when she crashed into a pedestrian and cyclist in Chinatown was charged with murder and a slew of other offenses, police announced Monday.
Police said that Autumn Donna Ascencio Romero was speeding off the Manhattan Bridge in a stolen 2024 Chevy Malibu at about 7:30 a.m. on Saturday when she lost control.
The vehicle crashed onto the sidewalk island separating the Manhattan Bridge off-ramp from Bowery, colliding into 55-year-old Kevin Cruickshank, an avid cyclist who was riding his bike, and 63-year-old May Kwok, who was sitting on a nearby bench. The Chevrolet came to a stop when it smashed into an unoccupied police van.
Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
Ascencio Romero and her alleged passenger, 22-year-old Kennedy Lecraft of Queens, attempted to leave the scene but were found and arrested, police said.
They were taken by medics to NYC Health and Hospitals/Bellevue in stable condition.
Ascencio Romero, of Staten Island, is charged with two counts each of murder, manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, aggravated vehicular homicide, criminal possession of a weapon and leaving the scene of an accident as well as one count of criminal possession of stolen property.
Lecraft was hit with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of stolen property and unauthorized use of a vehicle.
“It appears to be excessive speed,” Mayor Eric Adams said at a news conference on Saturday. “Two people are in custody, unfortunate incident—no one should lose their life in that manner.”