A suspected drunk driver crashed his truck into a crowd of people during a Fourth of July celebration in New York City, resulting in three deaths and eight injuries. The driver, identified as Daniel Hyden, 44, of New Jersey, was driving a Ford F-150 pickup truck at a high speed when he ran a stop sign, mounted a sidewalk, and collided with the group at Corlears Hook Park in the Lower East Side around 9 p.m.
The victims included Lucille Pinkney, 59, her son Hernan Pinkney, 38, and an unidentified female. Additionally, eight others, including an 11-year-old child, sustained injuries in the tragic incident.
Hyden, a wellness advocate and substance abuse counselor, has been charged with three counts of driving while intoxicated and one count of operating a vehicle without a license. He is expected to face additional charges.
Responding officers detected the smell of alcohol at the scene and praised bystanders for preventing Hyden from leaving. Firefighters used specialized equipment to rescue the victims trapped under the truck.
Hyden, who authored a book on addiction, claimed to provide guidance on managing the disease. Mayor Eric Adams described the incident as a tragic accident and confirmed that it was not terror-related.
The aftermath of the crash showed the truck's front severely damaged, surrounded by park benches and debris. The community mourns the loss of lives and prays for the swift recovery of the injured.
