2 useless, others damage as driver crashes into vacation crowd in New York Metropolis park

Two individuals had been killed and others had been injured when a driver suspected of being underneath the affect crashed right into a crowd celebrating the vacation at a New York Metropolis park Thursday, officers mentioned.

A pickup truck “driving at a excessive charge of pace” ran by an intersection, went up on the sidewalk and struck the group at Corlears Hook Park in Manhattan round 8:55 p.m., police mentioned.

9 individuals had been hit, two of whom had been useless on arrival, New York Police Chief of Division Jeff Maddrey mentioned at a information convention.

Two of the victims had been in essential situation, three had been in severe situation, and two others weren’t severely damage, officers mentioned.

The park, on Manhattan’s Decrease East Aspect subsequent to the East River, was filled with households “celebrating on a good looking Fourth of July night,” Maddrey mentioned.

Mayor Eric Adams mentioned a tragedy occurred as households had been barbecuing and having fun with the night.

“It seems as if right now, based mostly on preliminary investigation, that the driving force was underneath the affect,” Adams mentioned. “That is extraordinarily early. We’re going to conduct a radical investigation.”

Maddrey mentioned responding officers “did scent some alcohol, however we’re nonetheless within the strategy of doing testing.”

When first responders arrived on the park, “they encountered a pickup truck on high of 4 victims,” Hearth Division Assistant Chief of Operations Michael Meyers mentioned.

Folks on the park “grabbed the driving force, eliminated the driving force and made positive the driving force did not depart till first responders made it to the scene,” Maddrey mentioned.

The motive force was not recognized on the information convention.

The motive force was rushing east on Water Avenue in a Ford F-150, went by an intersection and “by the cease signal, up onto the sidewalk, into Corlears Hook Park, and struck individuals who had been out having fun with the night,” Maddrey mentioned.