72-Year-Old Man Arrested in Connection with Hit-and-Run Death of Kianna Underwood in Brooklyn

A 72-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the hit-and-run death of former Nickelodeon star Kianna Underwood, who was fatally struck while crossing a Brooklyn street on January 16. Michael Griffiths was 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 Police Department (NYPD). Griffiths was arrested on Tuesday, eight months after the incident. Underwood, 33, was struck by two vehicles around 6:50 a.m. in Brownsville. Surveillance footage showed her crossing against the light at Watkins Street and Pitkin Avenue when a Ford SUV crossed the double yellow line to pass a stopped car and hit her in the crosswalk. The impact sent her across the intersection, and she was subsequently run over by a second vehicle, which dragged her several hundred feet. She was found with severe trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene. Griffiths had previously stated that he recalled hitting something but maintained that he did nothing wrong. He claimed he pulled over after the incident and attempted to flag down the second vehicle, which fled the scene. Records indicate that Griffiths' car had been ticketed for 41 violations, including 25 for speeding. Underwood had appeared on the final season of the Nickelodeon show 'All That' in 2005 and had been experiencing homelessness in recent years.