NEW YORK — At least two people were killed and seven others were injured when a suspected drunk driver crashed during a Fourth of July celebration in a Manhattan park Thursday night, authorities said.
According to New York City police, the incident happened just before 9 p.m. on the Lower East Side.
During a late-night news conference, New York Police Chief Jeffrey Maddrey said the driver of a Ford F-150 pickup truck was driving at a high rate of speed on Water Street, then ran a stop sign at the intersection of Water and Cherry Streets, then mounted the sidewalk and crashed in Corlears Hook Park.
Nine pedestrians were hit, four of whom were trapped under the vehicle.
According to the New York City Fire Department, firefighters arrived on the scene within three and a half minutes and lifted the vehicle off the victims.
Nine people were taken to area hospitals. Two people were pronounced dead.
According to authorities, two victims were seriously injured, three seriously injured and two slightly injured.
Maddrey said they are still trying to determine the ages of the victims, but that at least two children were taken to an area hospital.
Authorities say the incident does not appear to be related to terrorism.
“A driver drove into a crowd of people who were actually just celebrating, as so many New Yorkers and Americans are doing right now,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Authorities suspect that alcohol played a role.
“The officers who arrived on scene did indeed smell alcohol, but we are still conducting tests,” Maddrey said.
The driver, whose name has not been released, was arrested on the spot with the help of good Samaritans.
“We believe there were initially people on scene who grabbed the driver, led him away and made sure the driver didn’t leave until emergency responders arrived,” Maddrey said.
