Times Square

Times Square Rampage Spurs Talks of 7th Avenue Car Ban

The Times Square rampage that left a young tourist dead and 22 other people injured earlier this month is spurring calls to further restrict cars from the Crossroads of the World.

Broadway became a pedestrian-only zone at Times Square eight years ago.

Now, some city officials and traffic experts say the car ban should be expanded to include the north-south artery of Seventh Avenue.

There are new concrete blocks and barricades throughout Times Square since the accident.

Richard Rojas, who was indicted by a grand jury last week, told police after his arrest that he had been smoking marijuana laced with the hallucinogenic drug PCP, according to a criminal complaint. He said he wanted to "kill them all" and police should have shot him to stop him, prosecutors said.

Rojas made a U-turn on Seventh Avenue at 42nd Street and started speeding down the sidewalk for about 3-and-a-half blocks, mowing down pedestrians before crashing into a traffic pole.

He is charged murder and attempted murder and is being held pending his July 13 arraignment. An attorney for Rojas did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

He also had two previous drunken driving cases.

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