SUV driver in crash that killed Nickelodeon star Kianna Underwood recalls hitting ‘something”

The owner of the SUV that cops say struck former Nickelodeon child star Kianna Underwood told the Daily News in an exclusive interview that before leaving the scene he tried to flag down the second motorist involved, who dragged the victim more than two blocks.

Michael Griffiths, 71, told The News Wednesday that he was behind the wheel of the 2021 black Ford Explorer cops say struck Underwood in Brownsville Friday morning.

“I did nothing wrong,” the septuagenarian said, tearing up at times as he spoke.

“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.”

Griffiths, who lives near the scene of the crash, has not been charged as police continue to investigate. Cops have impounded his SUV.

The police account of the incident says the SUV was heading west on Pitkin Ave. and had the green light but veered across the double yellow line into oncoming traffic to pass a turning vehicle before striking Underwood at Mother Gaston Blvd. about 6:50 a.m.

Underwood, 33, was in the crosswalk but crossing against the light, cops said.

Griffiths says he pulled over shortly after the crash.

“I saw another car hit the person and started dragging the person,” he said.

Cops say that after being struck by Griffiths, Underwood was run over and dragged for more than two blocks by a black-and-gray sedan. That driver has not been found.

Griffiths says that before leaving the scene he got out of his SUV and joined good Samaritans who tried to flag the second driver down.

“I don’t know if he saw or what,” he said of the other driver. “Only reason I leave is because I had to take my medication, he said. “I felt like I was going to faint when the incident happened.”

A New York City-native, Underwood had film and TV credits from the late ’90s and early 2000s. She was only 6 years old when she made her first film appearance with the 1999 theatrical release of “The 24 Hour Woman,” according to her IMDB.

She appeared in seven episodes of the Nickelodeon sketch comedy show “All That”, alongside Amanda Bynes and Kenan Thompson. She also joined the first national tour of “Hairspray” as little Inez, and had a minor role in “Death of a Dynasty,” a comedy about the hip-hop industry starring Kevin Hart.

Her first starring role was in “Little Bill,” an animated children’s series created by Bill Cosby for Nick Jr., in which she voiced the titular character’s cousin, Fuchsia Glover.

When cops managed to track Griffiths down later in the week after the crash, he refused to answer their questions, telling them to speak to his lawyer, a police source said.

“They came here and spoke to me and they took my vehicle,” Griffiths said of the cops. “My lawyer said not to speak to anybody.”

The vehicle has in the past been ticketed for 41 violations, 25 of them for speeding, records show.

Griffiths tearfully said he is distraught by what happened.

My lawyer will take care of me,” he said.  “No one on earth is perfect. Only the mighty God is perfect.”

Underwood died at the scene. The grisly incident laid bare Underwood’s tragic fall from grace — from a kind and talented young girl who appeared on Nickelodeon’s “All That” to an adult who had fallen on hard times.

The Daily News reported Sunday that fellow “All That” alumnus Angelique Bates in November 2023 said on Instagram that Underwood was homeless and needed help.

“I don’t know what the whole situation is. You don’t know if there’s addiction. You don’t know if there’s mental illness. You don’t know what is at play right now,” she said, adding that fundraising wouldn’t be enough. “There has to be a plan to make sure that they’re getting all the proper assistance.”

Anyone with information on the sedan driver is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.