Suspected drunk driver accused of killing 3, injuring 8 others arraigned in criminal court
LOWER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) -- 44-year-old Daniel Hyden was arraigned on a slew of charges, including numerous manslaughter offenses after 3 people were killed and 8 others injured in a suspected drunk driving crash.
He is being held without bail.
According to police, Hyden was driving on a suspended license for failing to answer a summons four times on three separate dates.
The crash happened just before 9 p.m. Thursday at 645 Water Street on the Lower East Side.
Eyewitness News obtained exclusive surveillance video as the truck drives eastbound down Water Street at a high rate of speed.
Officials say the truck sped through the intersection of Water Street and Cherry Street, slammed into a fence, and then barreled through a crowd, including a family that was having a Fourth of July picnic at the time.
A law enforcement official estimates the suspect, 44-year-old Daniel Hyden of South Brunswick, New Jersey, was driving at about 40 mph. It remains unclear where he was allegedly drinking before he crashed through two sets of fences and struck the pedestrians.
Police traced Hyden's steps to find his whereabouts prior to the crash to a boat party on Pier 36. He was apparently denied entry for being too drunk.
Hyden then got into a heated dispute with a bouncer before being refunded and leaving the location.
Police charged him with eight counts of assault recklessly causing a serious injury with a weapon, aggravated vehicular homicide killing more than one person, driving while intoxicated, and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the second-degree.
If the incident is treated as one criminal act, he could face up to 25 years in prison. If he is convicted consecutively, he could face up to 52 years in prison.
First responders arrived on the scene within three minutes and found four victims pinned under the grey Ford F-150 pickup truck in Corlears Hook Park.
The FDNY worked alongside NYPD ESU to remove the patients from under the vehicle.
Police said Ana Morel, 43, was killed along with 59-year-old Lucille Pinkney and her 38-year-old son Herman Pinkney.
"She always made sure I was the one that understands life in a very serious note," said Diamon Pinkey, Lucille Pinkey's son. "She taught me everything, how life works, how it works."
One injured victim is in critical condition, while six others were listed in stable condition.
The youngest of the injured is just 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 neighbor said.
Police say Hyden is suspected of drunk driving. He was pinned down by good Samaritans and held until police arrived on the scene.
He declined a breathalyzer and blood was drawn, police said.
NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell appeared on Eyewitness News Mornings @ 10 to talk about the deadly crash:
Hyden has a couple prior arrests in New York City for assaults.
In February, he was charged with assault and harassment for punching a teacher in the eye.
He also has a 2015 arrest for driving under the influence in Wisconsin. He pleaded guilty to a traffic offense and the case was dismissed.
Hyden is a substance-abuse counselor and author of "the Sober Addict," a 2020 book described as is "a practical guide on how to effectively live and cope with the dysfunctional, lifelong disease of addiction."
"I just say karma will coming at you," said Crystal Jimenez. "What goes around comes around. And I just pray God has mercy on your soul."
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