3 Dead After Suspected Drunk Driver Crashes into 4th of July Party in Manhattan Park

The driver in a pickup truck ran into a group celebrating Independence Day in Corlears Hook Park, the NYPD confirmed

• Three people have died after a suspected drunk driver ran into people celebrating the Fourth of July in Corlears Hook Park, New York City
  

• The truck was being driven by a 44-year-old male, who is now in police custody
  

• During a press conference, Mayor Eric Adams said the suspect drove into the crowd of people who were "just celebrating like so many New Yorkers and Americans are doing right now"

Three people have died and multiple others have been injured after a suspected drunk driver ran into a group celebrating the Fourth of July in New York City.

On Thursday at around 8:55 p.m. local time, a gray Ford F-150 pickup truck ran through the Water Street and Cherry Street intersection, through a stop sign, and into Corlears Hook Park where people were marking Independence Day, New York Police Department confirmed in a press conference.

NYPD said the truck was being driven by a 44-year-old male, and was traveling at high speed, before striking 11 pedestrians, per a statement obtained by PEOPLE. The vehicle went onto the sidewalk before entering the park and hitting victims who were "out enjoying the evening," authorities said during the conference.

They added that they believed alcohol played a role in the incident, but insisted the investigation was still in its early stages.

Police identified two of the three victims as 59-year-old female Lucille Pinkney, and 38-year-old male Hernan Pinkney, who live at the same address in NY. They had both been taken to New York Presbyterian Hospital, where they were pronounced deceased.

"An unidentified female pedestrian was transported by EMS to NYC Health and hospitals/Bellevue where she was pronounced deceased," the statement added.

"A 30-year-old female pedestrian was transported by EMS to NYC Health and hospitals/Bellevue in critical condition. A 35-year-old female pedestrian was transported by EMS to New York Presbyterian Hospital in stable condition," police confirmed.

A 36-year-old female is in stable condition after being taken to NYU Langone Medical Center, while a 37-year-old male, a 33-year-old female, and an 11-year-old boy were all transported by EMS to Mount Sinai Beth Israel and are also in stable condition, the statement added.

Police said a 38-year-old male and an 18-year-old female taken to New York Presbyterian Hospital were both in stable condition, as well.

The suspect has been taken into custody, charges pending, and the investigation remains ongoing by the NYPD Highway District's Collision Investigation Squad, per the police statement.

While speaking during the press conference, Mayor Eric Adams explained how the suspect drove into the crowd of people who were "just celebrating like so many New Yorkers and Americans are doing right now."

"It doesn't appear at this time that this was terrorist-related," Adams added.

During the conference, FDNY Chief Michael Meyers said that FDNY arrived on the scene within three minutes and 44 seconds and encountered a pickup truck on top of four victims.

Authorities said during the conference that they believed witnesses grabbed the driver and made sure he didn't leave before first responders arrived at the scene, adding that they believed a mother with two young children was among those affected.

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"Once he did that hard right turn so many people started screaming. He turned into the batting field, that's where we normally barbecue. It's a family that we all know. The Lower East Side bands together," a witness told WABC.

“I can’t get the screaming out of my head,” another witness told the New York Post.

Father of three Abdo Yahya, 30, who has lived in the area for 18 years, told the outlet, “Nothing like this has ever happened here before. I mean they fight. The argue. But nothing like this. My kids are scared to go outside now.”

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