Actress and Stuntwoman Carrie Bernans Seriously Injured in NYC Crash

Actress and stuntwoman Carrie Bernans, known for her roles in The Color Purple and Black Panther, has been hospitalized with serious injuries following a hit-and-run in New York City.

The incident occurred on Monday at around 1:30 a.m. when a driver crashed into an outdoor dining area at Chirp restaurant in Manhattan. 

According to her representative, Bernans suffered several broken bones in the crash and is currently in stable condition in the hospital.

Confirmed by the police, the incident unfolded during a foot chase as officers responded to reports of a physical assault involving a 44-year-old male driver of a black Mercedes and a 34-year-old female passenger near 33rd Street and 6th Avenue.

“Officers on foot attempted to de-escalate the situation and ordered the male operator of the vehicle to put the vehicle into park. The male failed to obey the officers’ orders and fled westbound on 33rd Street before making a right turn onto 7th Avenue counter flow to traffic,” the police statement added.

“The Mercedes then turned onto westbound West 34th Street, where he mounted the sidewalk and began traveling westbound. The male then struck a food cart and two 39-year-old female pedestrians, a 31-year-old female pedestrian, and a 29-year-old female pedestrian.”

According to police, two officers were also injured in the incident, along with the passenger of the Mercedes, after the driver “mounted the curb onto the sidewalk again” before striking “two unoccupied parked vehicles and a 2022 Toyota Camry in the roadway.”

“Officers were then able to remove the operator and place him into custody,” police stated.

The injured pedestrians and the stable passenger were taken to NYC Health & Hospitals/Bellevue, while the officers, also in stable condition, were transferred to a local hospital.

CBS News reported that the driver is currently in critical condition at Bellevue Hospital.

Patricia Lee, Bernans’ mother, shared graphic photos on Instagram detailing her daughter’s injuries, including a bloody and swollen face with chipped teeth in one image and Bernans in a hospital bed with bloody bruising on her hands in another.

“She’s still in so much pain and can’t answer calls at this time, but appreciate the messages,” her mother wrote in the caption, “This was a traumatic incident. Please keep Carrie in your thoughts and prayers. She’s in so much pain but healing.”

“It ended up knocking her unconscious and pended her under the stand. She was under it unaware of what was happening,” Lee continued about the incident.

“She has a few broken bones, fractures, & chipped teeth but thanking God that she’s alive … police caught him shortly after and arrested him. Amidst the chaos of the New Year’s incident, she’s holding onto an immense sense of gratitude for life itself.”

“This setback hasn’t deterred her belief that something remarkable is still being crafted by God,” Lee continued. “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.”

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