The Associated Press

Sat, May 17, 2008 (1:07 a.m.)

An out-of-control van jumped a curb and barreled into bystanders near the entrance to a crowded subway station Friday, killing the driver and hurting seven people, authorities said.

A 2-year-old boy was pinned under the van, the Fire Department said. A 7-year-old girl and five female adults were hurt, but their lives did not appear to be in danger, the Fire Department said. Fifty-eight-year-old Cesar Tabora was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witness Edward Jones said he pleaded with victims near a busy corner in East Harlem to stay still until rescuers arrived.

"They looked like they didn't even know what happened," said Jones, 32, of the Bronx. He said the van's driver appeared to have passed out. Police were investigating.

In central Los Angeles meanwhile, a double-decker trolley bus lost its brakes late Friday and crashed into a popular shopping mall, injuring an unknown number of people.

Fire spokeswoman d'Lisa Davies said the trolley did not come off the tracks or hit anyone, but didn't have more information.

Witnesses and people injured on the trolley said the bus hit a bunch of plants at The Grove shopping mall.

"I was on the top of the trolley and it was going full speed and then we just crashed," said Wonoh Massaquoi, who said that her mother hurt her arm and three others were treated for injuries.