Three people were killed Thursday when a suspected drunk driver crashed his Ford F-150 into a New York City park where people were gathering to celebrate Independence Day.
Authorities charged Daniel Hyden, 44, of New Jersey, with driving under the influence and operating without a license, Fox 5 reported. report Friday.
NYPD Commissioner Jeffrey Madeley said officers at the scene smelled alcohol and people at the park detained the driver shortly after the incident.
Police said the suspect was speeding down Water Street, going through an intersection, onto the sidewalk and crashing into a group of people in Corey’s Hook Park.
Video footage show Emergency personnel arriving on scene and the damaged truck still parked where the accident occurred:
According to Fox News, 11 people were hit, one of whom remains in critical condition, and the FDNY rescued four people who were pinned under the truck during the crash. Three of the victims died.
“Two of the victims were identified as 59-year-old Lucille Pinckney and her 38-year-old son Hernan Pinckney,” the outlet reported, noting that local residents had said the two were like family.
Police sources Said The suspect worked as a substance abuse counselor and had even written a guidebook on living with addiction, NBC New York reported Friday.
“Patrolman John Chell said he expects additional charges, including vehicular manslaughter, will be filed against Heiden,” the media outlet reported, adding that the suspect was not wearing a seat belt at the time, had a suspended license and refused to take a drug test.
The NBC article continues:
According to Hyden’s LinkedIn profile, he currently works as a program director for three residential treatment programs in Manhattan.
…
Law enforcement sources said Hyden had a previous arrest in February on assault charges after he was accused of punching a “fellow teacher” in the eye.
1 witness Said CBS New York reported that she and others were partying when a truck appeared out of nowhere.
At first she thought someone was putting up more lights for a barbecue, but that wasn’t the case.
“I started screaming and I ran over to see what was happening and there was a massive fight,” the woman said. “It was madness.”
In June, police said a drunk driver crashed his car into a nail salon on Long Island, killing four people and injuring nine, according to Breitbart News.
