CW: Graphic hospital photos
Updated 1/31/24 at 12:42 p.m. ET
There have been new developments in the shocking New Year’s Day hit-and-run that injured nine people in New York City , including Carrie Bernans, an actress who recently appeared in “The Color Purple” and worked as a stuntwoman on “Black Panther.”
According to NBC New York, Mohamed Alaouie, a 44-year-old man from New Jersey has been “charged with assault, aggravated vehicular assault, reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a controlled substance.”
Per court documents obtained by the outlet, Alaouie and his girlfriend were in his BMW when a witness told police that he was attacking her. When a police officer told him to put the car in park, Alouie allegedly “drove onto the sidewalk of West 33rd Street” where he hit someone later identified as Bernans.
After driving the wrong way on Seventh Avenue, he led officers on a chase down West 34th Street where he hit other vehicles and “allegedly accelerated and hit a food cart on the sidewalk, which hit three pedestrians and pinned two others underneath it.” He hit three more pedestrians and a police officer before his car broke down and he was arrested. There was cocaine found at the scene, as well as in his pants the next day at the hospital.
“This defendant allegedly careened through packed sidewalks and streets during the busiest time of the year in midtown,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement on Tuesday. “His recklessness endangered the lives of countless New Yorkers and visitors who were ringing in the New Year. I hope the victims can fully recover from their injuries and thank the police officers who were on the scene to apprehend this individual.”
Several of the victims suffered severe injuries that will take them considerable time to recover from.
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The new year started in traumatic fashion for one “The Color Purple” actress. According to Deadline, actress/stuntwoman Carrie Bernans was “critically injured” in an alleged hit and run in New York City on Monday.
Bernans was one of eight people injured when a car crashed into the outside dining area of Manhattan restaurant Chirp. After the initial crash, the car “backed up and rammed into another car before officers swarmed.” In a message on the “Black Panther” actress’ Instagram, her mother, Patricia Lee, gave an update on Bernans’ condition and posted some graphic photos of her daughter’s injuries.
Bernans’ newborn son was in a hotel with family and not with her at the restaurant when the incident occurred.
“She’s still in so much pain and can’t answer calls at this time, but appreciate the messages. This was a traumatic incident,” Lee wrote. “Please keep Carrie in your thoughts and prayers. She’s in so much pain but healing…It ended up knocking her unconscious and [pinned] her under the stand. She was under it unaware of what was happening.”
“She [has] a few broken bones, fractures, & chipped teeth but thanking God that she’s alive,” the message continued. “Amidst the chaos of the New Year’s incident, she’s holding onto an immense sense of gratitude for life itself.”
In addition to “Black Panther,” Bernans has also appeared in the Marvel films “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame.” Her IMDB page lists multiple upcoming projects, signaling that Bernans could be on the cusp of her breakout moment — a sentiment her mother echoed in the Instagram post.
“This setback hasn’t deterred her belief that something remarkable is still being crafted by God,” Lee wrote. “Despite the injuries sustained in the collision caused by a hit-and-run in NYC, she’s filled with hope and faith in the unfolding of a beautiful new chapter. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers as she navigates this path toward recovery and new beginnings.”