FEDERAL agents have been called in to investigate a crash that left two people dead and five wounded near a concert on New Year’s Day.
Up to 1,000 people were leaving a show in Rochester, New York early Monday when an SUV crashed into a car leaving a parking lot.
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Officers with the Rochester Police Department were already on site helping crowds cross the street from the Kodak Center when a Ford Explorer hit a Mitsubishi Outlander just before 1 am.
The crash forced the two cars into a group of pedestrians and other vehicles.
The Explorer caught fire and the flames were so intense that it took firefighters an hour to put them out.
Two passengers in the Mitsubishi died in the crash, while the drivers of the Outlander and Explorer were rushed to the hospital.
Three pedestrians walking in the area were injured, including one who was listed in critical condition, cops said.
“Once the fire was extinguished, first responders located at least a dozen gasoline canisters in and around the striking vehicle,” Rochester Police Chief David Smith said.
“Based on the danger level associated with these, the Rochester Police Department Bomb Squad and Joint Arson Task Force responded to the scene.”
The FBI has joined the investigation and agents were looking into whether the crash was intentional.
The driver of the Ford is from Syracuse and drove his own vehicle to the airport there, where he rented the SUV involved in the crash, law enforcement told ABC affiliate WABC.
As the driver remains in critical condition, investigators are combing through the unidentified man’s social media to understand why there were so many gas cans found near the SUV.
WABC also reported that the Mitsubishi was an Uber.
‘SWIFT AND COURAGEOUS ACTIONS’
The chaos erupted as people were leaving a New Year’s Eve show at the Kodak Center in upstate New York, where the rock band Moe performed on Sunday night.
The band released a statement on social media, saying they were experiencing “profound shock and sadness” following the crash.
“We are immensely thankful to the first responders and venue staff for their swift and courageous actions in securing everyone’s safety,” the band wrote.
Some of the 1,000 fans in attendance shared how they were nearly caught in the chaos.
“We left and crossed the street minutes before this took place, absolutely tragic ending to a wonderfully spent night,” one fan wrote.
“We were out front waiting for our Uber. It happened right in front of my son, husband, and myself. We are thankful to be alive. Please hug the people you love and hold close,” another person said.
“Oh no, what a nightmare. My heart goes out to the Moe. Peeps, holding everyone in light,” a third social media user wrote.
“We are continuing to work with our federal partners, including the FBI, to learn exactly what led to this crash,” Rochester’s police chief said in an update on Monday afternoon.
Rochester Mayor Malik Evans said more details will be released as soon as possible.
“We want to try to be as transparent as possible,” Evans said.
The mayor also urged anyone with information to come forward.
“No piece of information is too small,” he said.
“Pick up the phone and call the Rochester Police Department and let them know what you may know.”
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