US crash horror: Stolen car rams bench killing two in Chinatown; investigation underway

Two lives were tragically cut short on Saturday morning in Manhattan’s Chinatown when a stolen car careered off the road and slammed into a cyclist and a woman on a bench.In a disturbing CCTV footage, a blue Chevy Malibu can be seen speeding through a traffic median at the intersection of Bowery and Canal Streets just after 7:30am. The car struck 55-year-old Kevin Scott Cruickshank, a Chase Bank loan manager and father, who was riding his bicycle, and 63-year-old May Kwok, who had been seated nearby. Kwok was thrown from sight in an instant, while Cruickshank, also a well-known local figure, appeared to be hit head-on. The Malibu, a rental vehicle that had been reported stolen, then crashed into an empty NYPD van moments later, according to the footage seen by the New York Post. The alleged driver, Autumn Donna Ascencio Romero, 23, and passenger Kennedy LaCraft, 22, fled the scene on foot but were apprehended nearby by police. Officers said that drugs and alcohol were discovered inside the car. Romero is already facing an unresolved case in Brooklyn involving a separate crash on 13 April in which a bystander was struck. Cruickshank’s family issued a heartfelt statement confirming his death. “It is with a heavy heart that we confirm that dear friend, neighbor, loving son and husband Kevin Cruickshank has been killed,” the family’s spokesperson told the New York Post. “Kevin was a regular fixture in the neighborhood, known for his warm, welcoming spirit and love of helping his friends and neighbors."The spokeswoman added that Kevin had a deep love for cycling and was often spotted returning from long rides through the neighbourhood. “It’s heartbreaking to know he lost his life while doing something he truly enjoyed,” she said.May Kwok, the second victim, was remembered by her brother as a “free spirit” who enjoyed walking around the neighbourhood and attending church. The investigation remains ongoing, as authorities piece together what led to the fatal collision.