After a hit-and-run in New York City, an actress and stuntwoman who appeared in The Color Purple and Black Panther was hospitalized with serious injuries. Carrie Bernans, 29, was critically injured after a driver crashed into an outdoor dining area at Manhattan’s Chirp restaurant around 1:30 a.m. on Monday, her representative confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE.
Carrie Bernans is in stable condition
Bernans, a new mother, suffered several broken bones in the crash and is currently in stable condition in the hospital, according to her representative, who also confirmed that her child was not present at the time of the crash.
Police confirmed to PEOPLE that the incident occurred during a foot chase after officers were informed of a physical assault involving the 44-year-old male driver of a black Mercedes and a 34-year-old female passenger in the area of 33rd Street and 6th Avenue.
“Officers on foot attempted to de-escalate the situation and ordered the male operator of the vehicle to put the vehicle into park. The male failed to obey the officers’ orders and fled westbound on 33rd Street before making a right turn onto 7th Avenue counter flow to traffic,” the police statement added.
“The Mercedes then turned onto westbound West 34th Street where he mounted the sidewalk and began traveling westbound. The male then struck a food cart and two 39-year-old female pedestrians, a 31-year-old female pedestrian, and a 29-year-old female pedestrian.”
Two officers were also injured in the incident, along with the passenger of the Mercedes, after the driver “mounted the curb onto the sidewalk again” before striking “two unoccupied parked vehicles and a 2022 Toyota Camry in the roadway,” added the police.
“Officers were then able to remove the operator and place him into custody,” police stated.
The driver is currently in critical condition
According to the release, the injured pedestrians were taken to NYC Health & Hospitals/Bellevue, along with the passenger, who is in stable condition. The officers were transported to a nearby hospital and are in stable condition. Following the incident, an investigation is underway.
According to CBS News, the driver is currently in critical condition at Bellevue Hospital.
Bernans’ mother, Patricia Lee, graphically detailed her daughter’s injuries in a series of Instagram photos. Her face appeared bloody and swollen in one image, with chipped and bloody teeth. Bernans was shown in a second photo lying in a hospital bed with bloody bruising on her hands.
“She’s still in so much pain and can’t answer calls at this time, but appreciate the messages,” her mother wrote in the caption, “This was a traumatic incident. Please keep Carrie in your thoughts and prayers. She’s in so much pain but healing.”
“It ended up knocking her unconscious and pended her under the stand. She was under it unaware of what was happening,” Lee continued about the incident.
“She has a few broken bones, fractures, & chipped teeth but thanking God that she’s alive … Police caught him shortly after and arrested him. Amidst the chaos of the New Year’s incident, she’s holding onto an immense sense of gratitude for life itself.”
“This setback hasn’t deterred her belief that something remarkable is still being crafted by God,” Lee continued. “Despite the injuries sustained in the collision caused by a hit-and-run in NYC, she’s filled with hope and faith in the unfolding of a beautiful new chapter. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers as she navigates this path toward recovery and new beginnings.”
Bernans had completed her surgery, according to Lee, and she thanked the first responders, strangers, family, and friends who helped her after the incident.
