6 hurt in crash in Lower Manhattan

NEW YORK (FOX5NY) - Six people were hurt in a multi-car crash just blocks from the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. 

It happened about 1:20 p.m. in the area of Liberty St. and Broadway.

Police say the driver of a Lincoln Continental hit a Ford Explorer at the intersection and then proceeded eastbound on Liberty Street for nearly a full block before rear-ending a red Mercedes SUV.  The Lincoln came to a stop on the sidewalk.

Officers initially said that it was a road rage incident but later say it may have been started with a driver having a medical problem.

The NYPD says six people were transported to area hospitals.  Three were pedestrians, one was a cyclist and two were drivers.  There conditions were not immediately known but they were not believed to be life-threatening injuries.

Police said the area is safe but to avoid it because of the ongoing collision investigation and traffic congestion.

A witness, Hector Freytes of Queens, says people scattered as the car sped along Liberty. He says a woman near him in a crosswalk dove out of the way and suffered a leg injury. Freytes says he's "in shock." 
 
On Oct. 31, a driver killed eight people in a truck attack on an area bike path.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.