Trial begins for man accused of driving drunk into crowd on 4th of July, killing 4
NEW YORK -- A trial got underway on Monday for a man accused of ramming his car into a crowd of people as they celebrated the Fourth of July in 2024.
It was supposed to be a night of joy and celebration, instead four people were killed, and seven more were hurt. The youngest was 11 years old.
Authorities maintain Hyden was drunk while driving his pickup truck ran stop signs, crashed through a fence and plowed into the crowd.
The long time friends were at a barbecue in a park on the lower east side off water street around 9 p.m. that evening.
The driver, 44-year-old Daniel Hyden, heard from families during the first day of the trial who say he shattered their lives last year.
During opening statements, prosecutors said Ana Morel's life ended when, "5000 pounds of twisted steel and rubber" pinned her under the suspect's truck.
Lucille and Herman Pinkney, a mother and son, died just a few feet apart.
Lilly Ruiz was in the park that night with her daughter Emily and Emily's then 6 year old son.
Lilly, like others who sobbed in court, testified, she heard a loud bang and saw Emily under the truck with her eyes "wide open like saucers."
Lilly says she tapped Emily's face and begged her "don't close your eyes," telling the judge she realized, "I'm watching my daughter die right in front of my eyes."
The 30-year-old was rushed the hospital. Her little boy brought his toy first aide kit saying, "I don't want my mom to die, she's a great person."
8 days later, Emily was taken off life support.
Moreno testified, it was pure mayhem and that there was nowhere to go.
He grew up with Herman Pinkney and said Lucille was like a mother to him.
In all of the chaos, Moreno remembers being hit and thrown roughly 8 feet.
In the end he was one of many who beat and pulled Hyden out of his truck as he tried to get away.
Prosecutors detailed the roughly 45 minutes before the deadly incident.
The suspect tried to get on a party boat at nearby pier 36 but prosecutors say because he appeared drunk, security wouldn't let him on. The group then got into a brawl.
In videos played in court, Hyden told responding officers he was OK and got into his truck and drove away.
"I just want this man to rot in jail, giveh im his 25 years," a relative said.
The bench trial is expected to take about two weeks.
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