The driver in a pickup truck ran into a group celebrating Independence Day in Corlears Hook Park, the NYPD confirmed
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At least two people have died and multiple others have been injured after a suspected drunk driver ran into a group celebrating the Fourth of July in Lower Manhattan, 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.
Authorities said the truck was traveling at high speed and went onto the sidewalk before entering the park and striking victims who were “out enjoying the evening.”
Police said two people were confirmed dead on arrival and that there had been a total of nine injuries. They added that they believed alcohol played a role in the incident, but insisted the investigation was still in its early stages.
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.”
“A total of nine injuries and it appears as though at this time based on preliminary investigation, the driver was under the influence,” he added during the conference.
“It doesn’t appear at this time that this was terrorist-related,” Adams added.
FDNY Chief Michael Meyers said EMS had confirmed four people were critically injured, three were seriously injured, and two were relatively stable.
Per WABC, ABC News, and NBC News, a third person has now died following the incident.
The NYPD didn’t immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for comment.
During the conference, Chief Meyers added 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 were among those affected.
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According to WABC, the victims were a 59-year-old woman, a 38-year-old man and a woman in her early 40s. The outlet stated the youngest of the injured was 11 years old.
“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 the publication.
“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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