KIANNA UNDERWOOD HIT-AND-RUN: Former Nickelodeon child star Kianna Underwood killed at age 33 in Brooklyn. Police are searching for two drivers involved in the double hit-and-run on Pitkin Avenue.
The entertainment world is reeling from the tragic death of Kianna Underwood, a former Nickelodeon child star who was killed in a harrowing double hit-and-run in the Brownsville neighbourhood of Brooklyn. The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Friday, January 16, 2026. She was 33 years old.
Authorities report that Underwood was struck by two separate vehicles within seconds, both of which fled the scene without stopping to render aid.
The NYPD’s Highway District Collision Investigation Squad is currently hunting for the drivers involved in what they describe as a “brutal and senseless” act of negligence.
The Incident: A Nightmarish Scene in Brownsville
According to surveillance footage and police statements, the collision took place around 6:43 a.m. at the intersection of Pitkin Avenue and Mother Gaston Boulevard.
- The First Strike: A black 2021 Ford Explorer SUV traveling westbound reportedly crossed a double yellow line into oncoming traffic to pass another vehicle, striking Underwood as she crossed the street.
- The Second Strike: As Underwood lay motionless in the roadway, she was struck a second time by a black-and-gray sedan following closely behind the SUV.
- The Dragging: In a gruesome detail confirmed by law enforcement, Underwood was lodged beneath one of the vehicles and dragged for nearly two blocks before being left in the street at Pitkin Avenue and Osborn Street. Emergency responders pronounced her dead at the scene.
From ‘All That’ to a Life in the Shadows
Kianna Underwood was a beloved face for a generation of 2000s kids, known for her vibrant energy and comedic timing.
| Role / Project | Description | Years |
| ‘All That’ | Cast member in the final season of the sketch comedy hit. | 2005 |
| ‘Little Bill’ | Voiced Fuchsia Glover, the cousin of the titular character. | 1999–2004 |
| ‘Hairspray’ | Performed as Little Inez in the first national tour. | 2004 |
| ‘The 24 Hour Woman’ | Film debut alongside Rosie Perez. | 1999 |
In recent years, Underwood had transitioned away from acting and was reportedly living an unhoused life in Brooklyn. She was a familiar and well-liked figure in Brownsville, with locals describing her as a “kind soul” who often shared stories of her time on television.
A Father’s Grief and a Community’s Outreach
The tragedy has sparked an outpouring of grief from her family and former colleagues. Her father, Anthony Underwood, shared a heartbreaking post on social media comparing the incident to a fox he once saw hit by a car—a moment of horror that stayed with him for years, now mirrored by his daughter’s plight.
“She laid there dying and they just kept going,” her father wrote. “The horror I felt seeing that fox… I never thought I would feel it for my own flesh and blood.”
Additionally, former All That co-star Angelique Bates had reportedly been sounding the alarm regarding Underwood’s well-being for months. Bates had used her platform to seek help for Underwood after a viral video surfaced in 2021 showing the former star disoriented on the streets of New York, still identifying herself as “Kianna from Nickelodeon”.
