Two Dunellen, NJ High School Seniors Hurt In Times Square Crash: Officials

Two New Jersey high school seniors were among those critically injured in Thursday’s fatal Times Square crash that killed one and injured 22 others.

Dunellen Schools Superintendent Gene Mosley confirmed to Patch that two Dunellen High School seniors were seriously hurt and transported to Bellevue Hospital in New York City. They remained hospitalized as of Friday afternoon.

Mosley declined to identify the students, citing their privacy. Both girls were accompanied by family members, he said.

Dunellen High School’s principal, Paul Lynch, addressed the faculty prior to the school day to make them aware of the latest updates on the situation, Mosley said in a statement.

Shortly thereafter, a school-wide assembly was held to update the student body and "dispel the rumors that were swirling around social media," he said. Grief counselors were made available throughout the day for students who needed them.

"These girls – members of the Dunellen High School Class of 2017 – are in the thoughts and prayers of everyone in the Dunellen educational community as well as the community at large," he said. "We wish them Godspeed for a complete recovery."

The story was initially broken by the Courier-News. Click here to read more.

Richard Rojas, a 26-year-old Bronx resident, ran at an NYPD traffic officer and shouted, "I wanted to kill them" immediately after crashing his car after plowing through a crowd of people in Times Square, according to a criminal complaint from the Manhattan District Attorney's office. After Rojas was arrested he told a police officer, "I smoked marijuana. I laced the marijuana with PCP," according to the complaint.

Rojas was apprehended after his deadly drive through Times Square, authorities said, with the help of civilians and NYPD officers who chased him down when he tried to flee the area. Prosecutors have charged Rojas with murder, 20 counts of attempted murder and one counts of aggravated vehicular homicide.

Read more: Times Square Driver Was On Drugs, Said He 'Wanted To Kill Them': Prosecutors

Michigan tourist Alyssa Elsman, who was visiting the city with her family, was killed on Thursday, authorities said. Her 13-year-old little sister was among those injured. Elsman, 18, was from Portage, Michigan.

Rojas is suspected to have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs when he sped through Times Square just before noon on Thursday, according to police sources. Rojas mounted the sidewalk on Seventh Avenue near 42nd Street and sped along the sidewalk until crashing at 45th Street, according to a statement from police. NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill said Thursday that the incident is not believed to be terrorism related.

Rojas has two previous arrests for driving under the influence charges, according to police.

Streets in Times Square reopened early Friday morning after the heart of the area was closed off while police investigated the sprawling crime scene.

With reporting by Ciara McCarthy (Patch Staff)

Image via Drew Angerer / Staff / Getty Images News/ Getty Images