Police have arrested a 72-year-old man in connection with the alleged hit-and-run death of former Nickelodeon star Kianna Underwood.
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Underwood, who starred on the Nickelodeon sketch show All That, was reportedly dragged two blocks after being struck by a car in Brooklyn back in January. The 33-year-old reportedly suffered severe trauma to her head and torso in the tragic incident.
Now, several months after the tragic incident, Michael Griffiths was arrested on Sept. 29 by the NYPD. The 72-year-old is charged with "leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and leaving the scene of an accident with injury," according to The New York Post.
The Post also reports that surveillance footage showed a Ford SUV traveling west on Pitkin Avenue and striking Underwood as she crossed the street at Pitkin and Mother Gaston Blvd. A second black and gray sedan then allegedly struck the former Nickelodeon star, dragging her several hundred feet.
The incident occurred in the early morning, with a 911 call reportedly logged at 6:49 AM. Underwood was reportedly found motionless in the road.
Man Arrested After Alleged Hit-and-Run Death of Nickelodeon Actress Previously Claimed He Left to Take Medication
However, not long after the incident, Griffiths claimed he did nothing wrong.
"At the time, it was a little bit darkish. I was going to work...It felt like I hit something, and I pulled over and stopped," he recalled to The New York Daily News back in January. He added that he "saw another car hit the person and started dragging the person."
Griffiths claims he tried to wave down the second vehicle before leaving the scene himself, saying he needed to take medication to avoid fainting.
The Post added that Griffiths allegedly had a deep bench of 41 driving violations, which included 25 tickets for speeding.
Beyond her role on All That, Underwood voiced the character Fuchsia on the animated series Little Bill.
In recent years, Underwood reportedly became homeless, with All That cast member Angelique Bates confirming her former co-star's situation in 2023.
After Underwood's tragic death, Bates took to social media to mourn.
"Y'all have no idea how much this one hurts...Sick to my stomach. So many people failed baby girl," she wrote on Instagram after news spread of the hit-and-run death.
