At the height of the Fourth of July celebrations, at least two people died when a driver suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol sped into a Lower East Side park, hitting nine people, according to police and city officials.
The gray pickup truck ran a stop sign near the intersection of Water and Jackson streets before jumping the sidewalk and speeding into Corlears Hook Park around 9 p.m., NYPD leadership said at a late-night press conference.
The park was full of families enjoying the holiday when the truck drove up at high speed and struck nine people. Emergency crews quickly arrived at the scene and found four people trapped under the truck.
Rescue crews worked to lift the truck and free the injured revelers as quickly as possible. Several victims were taken to area hospitals, but at least two people succumbed to their injuries.
According to NYPD leadership, the driver appeared to have alcohol on his breath. They believe alcohol played a role in the tragic incident and said investigators do not believe it was a terrorist incident.
Due to a police investigation, please avoid the area around Water Street and Jackson Street in Manhattan. Expect police presence and ongoing traffic delays in the area. pic.twitter.com/LnNuBzXIGn
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) July 5, 2024
