A man from Monmouth, New Jersey, drove his pickup truck into a group of people celebrating the Fourth of July in Manhattan, causing the deaths of three individuals and injuring eight others, according to New York prosecutors.
Daniel Hyden, 44, was brought before Manhattan criminal court on various charges including aggravated vehicular homicide, assault, manslaughter, and driving under the influence. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office confirmed these charges.
Representatives from the Legal Aid Society, who are handling Hyden’s case, did not provide immediate comments. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 10.
The incident occurred around 9 p.m. on Thursday, shortly before the start of the Macy’s fireworks show and other displays in New York. New York City police reported that Hyden was speeding in his Ford F-150 pickup through Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
He went through an intersection and disregarded a stop sign before driving onto the sidewalk and into Corlears Hook Park. Police discovered his pickup on top of four victims, with three fatalities identified as Lucille Pinkney, 59; her son Hernan Pinkney, 38; and Ana Morel, 43.