Arrest Made in Hit-and-Run Death of Former Nickelodeon Star Kianna Underwood
A 72-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the January death of Kianna Underwood, who appeared on "All That."
A 72-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the fatal hit-and-run death of former Nickelodeon star Kianna Underwood.
Michael Griffiths was arrested Tuesday by the New York City Police Department and charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and leaving the scene of an accident with injury. His next court appearance is scheduled for October 27.
Underwood, 33, was struck by two vehicles in Brooklyn's Brownsville neighborhood on January 16. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
In a January interview with the New York Daily News, Griffiths admitted he was driving a Ford Explorer that initially hit Underwood, but maintained he "did nothing wrong." The vehicle was reportedly traveling west on Pitkin Avenue and veered across double yellow lines to pass another vehicle when it struck Underwood. She was then hit by a second vehicle, which dragged her body for several hundred feet before it came loose.
Griffiths claimed he stopped after the initial impact and attempted to flag down other drivers after seeing the second vehicle strike Underwood. He stated he left the scene because he needed to take medication and felt he was going to faint.
Griffiths's vehicle had a history of violations, including 41 tickets, 25 of which were for speeding.
Underwood, who starred in the tenth and final season of the Nickelodeon sketch comedy series "All That" from 2004 to 2005, had reportedly fallen on hard times. Angelique Bates, a former castmate, had previously raised concerns on social media about Underwood being homeless in New York City. Those who knew Underwood in Brooklyn described her as frequently asking for money.
Underwood also appeared in 23 episodes of "Little Bill" and the film "The 24 Hour Woman." She also voiced a character in the animated movie "Santa Baby!" and toured with the musical "Hairspray."
It remains unclear what progress police have made in identifying and locating the driver of the second vehicle involved in the incident.