Victim killed in Times Square crash ID'd as 18-year-old tourist from Michigan

ByEyewitness News WABC logo
Thursday, May 18, 2017
(Photo/Portage Central High School)
wabc-Photo/Portage Central High School

TIMES SQUARE, Manhattan -- The person killed in a horrific crash in New York City's Times Square Thursday was an 18-year-old tourist from Michigan.

RELATED: Sources say Times Square driver was apparently high on K2

The victim has been identified as Alyssa Elsman. She was among 23 people struck by a speeding car driven up the sidewalk on Seventh Avenue just before noon.

PHOTOS: Car plows into crowd in Times Square

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Elsman was with her 13-year-old sister, who was also injured in the crash.

Alyssa Elsman graduated high school last summer.

RELATED: Tourist killed, 22 hurt after driver plows into crowd in Times Square

"She was a terrific young lady... and we will really miss her," said Eric Alburtus, principal at Portage Central High School.

Police said the driver was high on drugs - possibly synthetic marijuana (K2) when he made the turn up Seventh Avenue from 42nd Street and drove three blocks before striking a metal pole.

Click here for full coverage on the deadly Times Square crash.