Times Square

Times Square Rampage Spurs Talks of 7th Avenue Car Ban

The recent deadly crash in Times Square is spurring talks on banning cars entirely in the area.

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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