Two people were killed and others were injured when a driver suspected of being under the influence crashed into a crowd celebrating the holiday at a New York City park Thursday, officials said.
A pickup truck “driving at a high rate of speed” ran through an intersection, went up on the sidewalk and struck the crowd at Corlears Hook Park in Manhattan around 8:55 p.m., police said.
Nine people were hit, two of whom were dead on arrival, New York Police Chief of Department Jeff Maddrey said at a news conference.
Two of the victims were in critical condition, three were in serious condition, and two others were not seriously hurt, officials said.
The park, on Manhattan’s Lower East Side next to the East River, was full of families “celebrating on a beautiful Fourth of July evening,” Maddrey said.
Mayor Eric Adams said a tragedy occurred as families were barbecuing and enjoying the evening.
“It appears as though at this time, based on preliminary investigation, that the driver was under the influence,” Adams said. “This is extremely early. We’re going to conduct a thorough investigation.”
Maddrey said responding officers “did smell some alcohol, but we are still in the process of doing testing.”
When first responders arrived at the park, “they encountered a pickup truck on top of four victims,” Fire Department Assistant Chief of Operations Michael Meyers said.
People at the park “grabbed the driver, removed the driver and made sure the driver didn’t leave until first responders made it to the scene,” Maddrey said.
The driver was not identified at the news conference.
The driver was speeding east on Water Street in a Ford F-150, went through an intersection and “through the stop sign, up onto the sidewalk, into Corlears Hook Park, and struck people who were out enjoying the evening,” Maddrey said.
