‘Black Panther’ actress Carrie Bernans critically injured in hit-and-run accident

Carrie Bernans, the actress and stuntperson who has featured in movies including Black Panther and The Color Purple, was among four pedestrians who were struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run incident in New York City.

According to The Los Angeles Times, Bernans sustained critical injuries in the accident. In a statement, the NYPD said officers in the wee hours of Monday responded to an assault case involving a man and a woman occupying a black Mercedes Benz vehicle.

“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 statement said.

“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.”

Police also said the female passenger as well as two officers sustained injuries after the driver “mounted the curb onto the sidewalk again” and then hit “two unoccupied parked vehicles and a 2022 Toyota Camry in the roadway”, PEOPLE reported.

“Officers were then able to remove the operator and place him into custody,” the statement added.

The driver of the vehicle, identified as 44-year-old Mohamed Alaouie, faces a slew of charges including attempted murder, assault, reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a controlled substance, leaving the scene of an accident, driving while intoxicated and driving while apparently impaired, The Los Angeles Times reported.

In the wake of the accident, Bernans’ publicist told the news outlet that the actress and stuntperson had been left critically injured, though her condition was stable.

“Her family are forever grateful for the love and support they have received since this tragic accident happened this morning in NYC,” the publicist said in the statement. “They are grateful to God that her son was not with her and that he is safe and with her family. She is receiving excellent care and has a long road of healing and rehabilitation ahead. Her family kindly asks that you keep her in your thoughts and prayers at this time.”

The 29-year-old’s family has since set up a GoFundMe to help raise funds for her medical bills as well as other expenses. The fundraiser also stated that she has already undergone one surgery after breaking multiple bones and suffering fractures, adding that she is currently unable to walk or breastfeed her 8-month-old son as a result of the medication she’s taking to “subdue the pain between her surgeries.”

Her family in a post on her Instagram page also said Bernans’ 8-month-old son was not with her when the accident occurred.

“Please keep Carrie in your thoughts and prayers. She’s in so much pain but healing,” the statement said. “She was involved in a traumatic incident in NYC. … It ended up knocking her unconscious and [pinned] her under the [struck food] stand. She was under it unaware of what was happening.

“She have a few broken bones, fractures, & chipped teeth but thanking God that she’s alive. Nine people were injured in his attempted escape from the hit & run, including 3 police officers. … Amidst the chaos of the New Year’s incident, she’s holding onto an immense sense of gratitude for life itself.”

Her family also expressed gratitude to those who helped her in the wake of the accident.