Marvel star Carrie Bernans has been left critically injured after a driver crashed into an outdoor dining area at Manhattan's Chirp restaurant.
In a statement to PEOPLE, the 29-year-old's representative confirmed that the unsettling incident occured in the early hours of Monday.
Bernans, a new mother, sustained severe injuries, including multiple broken bones, as a result of the crash. In several posts to her Instagram Stories, she has stated that she is currently "can't walk yet" as a result of the injuries she has sustained. She has also asked her supporters to "pray for her strength".
The actress and stuntwoman is currently in stable condition in the hospital, where she continues to receive medical care and support.
Fortunately, her infant child was not present at the scene during the tragic incident.
Per TMZ, the Black Panther star was knocked unconscious after being struck.
The terrifying episode occurred in the midst of a police pursuit. Officers had responded to reports of a physical altercation involving a 44-year-old male driver of a black Mercedes and a 34-year-old female passenger in the vicinity of 33rd Street and 6th Avenue. The subsequent events were confirmed by police sources.
"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," detailed a police statement obtained by PEOPLE.
The dramatic sequence continued as the Mercedes veered onto westbound West 34th Street, mounting the sidewalk, and traveling westbound once more. In the process, the vehicle collided with a food cart and struck multiple pedestrians, including Bernans and others.
Among the victims were two 39-year-old female pedestrians, a 31-year-old female pedestrian, and the 29-year-old Bernans. The alarming incident also led to injuries sustained by two police officers and the passenger of the Mercedes.
The driver, following his reckless path, even managed to mount the curb onto the sidewalk once more, colliding with two unoccupied parked vehicles and a 2022 Toyota Camry in the roadway.
Despite the chaos that ensued, the police were able to apprehend the driver and place him into custody. The injured pedestrians, including Bernans, were swiftly transported to NYC Health & Hospitals/Bellevue. Fortunately, the passenger of the Mercedes is currently in stable condition, as are the officers who were injured during the incident.
However, the driver responsible for the hit-and-run collision is now in critical condition and is receiving treatment at Bellevue Hospital, as reported by CBS News.
In the wake of the traumatic incident, Patricia Lee, Bernans' mother, shared a series of photographs on Instagram. The images show Bernans' face marred by swelling and blood, with chipped and bloody teeth. Another picture depicted her lying in a hospital bed, displaying visible bruises and injuries on her hands.
In her heartfelt caption, Lee expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support and messages, acknowledging the traumatic nature of the incident and the pain her daughter was enduring.
"She’s still in so much pain and can’t answer calls at this time, but appreciate the messages," Bernans' mother wrote. "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,” she continued. "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."
Despite the numerous broken bones, fractures, and chipped teeth resulting from the collision, Lee highlighted her daughter's resilience and unshakeable faith. "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," the mother wrote. "Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers as she navigates this path toward recovery and new beginnings."
In a recent Instagram Story, Bernans confirmed that she was still in "so much pain", but showed herself pumping breastmilk for her young baby.
Our thoughts at this time are with Bernans and anybody else impacted by this incident.
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