72-year-old arrested in connection with Underwood hit-and-run death
72-year-old arrested in fatal hit-and-run involving former Nickelodeon actress Kianna Underwood.
Event / Security
Kianna Underwood Hit-and-Run Death
Arrest made in the January 2026 hit-and-run death of former Nickelodeon star Kianna Underwood in Brooklyn. 72-year-old Michael Griffiths charged eight months after the fatal incident in which Underwood was struck by two vehicles in Brownsville.
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2026-10-01 to 2026-10-31 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 1 Oct, 03:48 UTC
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What happened
Griffiths initially claimed he 'did nothing wrong' after striking Underwood
In an interview with the New York Daily News in late January 2026, Michael Griffiths stated he remembered hitting 'something' with his vehicle and pulled over to stop. He claimed he exited his SUV and joined bystanders in trying to flag down the second vehicle that struck Underwood, and left the scene to take medication because he felt faint.
Kianna Underwood appeared in Nickelodeon's 'All That' and voiced 'Little Bill'
Kianna Underwood starred in seven episodes of the Nickelodeon children's sketch comedy show 'All That' in 2005. From 1999 to 2004, she voiced the character Fuchsia Glover in the Nick Jr. show 'Little Bill.' She also performed as Little Inez in the first national tour of 'Hairspray.' 'All That' was her last credited role.
Former Nickelodeon star Kianna Underwood killed in Brownsville hit-and-run incident
Kianna Underwood, a 33-year-old former Nickelodeon child star, was struck by a black Ford Explorer SUV while crossing an intersection at Watkins Street and Pitkin Avenue in Brownsville on January 16, 2026, at approximately 6:50 a.m. After being hit by the SUV, she was subsequently struck and dragged several hundred feet by a second black-and-gray sedan. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Driver's vehicle had history of traffic violations prior to fatal incident
Michael Griffiths' 2021 black Ford Explorer had received 41 violations from police, including 25 speeding tickets, according to records. The vehicle was impounded following the incident.
72-year-old Michael Griffiths arrested in connection with fatal hit-and-run of Kianna Underwood
Michael Griffiths, a 72-year-old Brooklyn resident, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and leaving the scene of an accident involving injury. The arrest occurred more than eight months after the fatal incident on January 16, 2026.
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