U-Haul Minivan Crashes Into Cars, Sidewalk Injuring Three in Midtown Manhattan

An 86-year-old driver operating a U-Haul minivan lost control and caused a multi-vehicle crash in Midtown Manhattan near East 57th Street and Madison Avenue, injuring four people. The driver first rear-ended a yellow taxi stopped mid-block, then reversed into a Toyota sedan before driving onto the sidewalk, where the van struck several structures including three mailboxes, a LinkNYC kiosk, a fire hydrant, and an MTA bus sign. The falling bus sign hit a 33-year-old female pedestrian. The pedestrian, the U-Haul driver, the taxi driver, and a passenger in the Toyota were all transported to local hospitals and are in stable condition. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, but the reason why the van lost control remains unclear. The crash caused significant damage to street infrastructure but no structural damage to buildings was reported.