NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — Police arrested the 44-year-old drunk driver who killed three people and injured eight others after he crashed into a park on the Lower East Side on Thursday night.
Daniel Hyden of Monmouth Junction, N.J., was charged with drunk driving and for driving without a valid license upon arrest.
He was soon after hit with additional charges, including eight counts of recklessly causing serious injury with a weapon and aggravated vehicular homicide killing more than one person.
The crash happened at around 8:45 p.m. at Corlears Hook Park near Water and Jackson streets, authorities said.
According to officials, a gray Ford F-150 sped through the intersection of Water Street and Cherry, ran a stop sign, jumped the sidewalk then crashed into the park, causing several people to become trapped underneath the truck.
Lucile Pinckney, 59, and her 38-year-old son Hernan Pinckney both died in the crash. They lived less than a block away from the park where they were killed, according to police.
Another unidentified woman, who police said was in her 40s, also died.
Eight others were injured in the crash and taken by EMS to local hospitals, including a 30-year-old woman who was transported in critical condition to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue.
Two women, 35 and 18, and a 38-year-old man were taken to NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital in stable condition.
A 36-year-old woman was transported to NYU Langone Medical Center, and a 37-year-old man, 33-year-old woman and 11-year-old boy were taken to Mount Sinai Beth Israel, all in stable condition.
The investigation by the NYPD Highway District's Collision Investigation Squad is ongoing.