2 dead after alleged drunk driver mows down 7 pedestrians in NYC: cops
A drunk driver allegedly mowed down nine people — killing two — who were celebrating the Fourth of July on the Lower East Side Thursday, cops and police sources said.
Among the victims is a mother and her two young kids, according to sources.
Multiple families were inside Corlears Hook Park when a speeding gray Ford F-150 blew through the Water Street and Jackson Street intersection, over the sidewalk and into the greenspace, police told reporters.
The pick-up — which weighs an average of 5,000 pounds — was on top of four victims when first responders arrived and used airbags, floor jacks and cribbing to free them.
Three victims were taken to Bellevue and three others to New York Hospital Downtown.
Four are clinging to life and three others are in serious condition, FDNY Chief Michael Myers said. Two were treated with minor injures.
Two were pronounced dead at the scene, including a 41-year-old woman.
A mother and her two “young” kids were counted among the surviving victims, but police couldn’t say whether they were the ones caught beneath the drunk driver’s truck.
Parkgoers who witnessed the tragedy jumped into action to restrain the drunk driver to prevent him from fleeing the scene, police said.
Officers smelled alcohol on the driver, saying they “believe that alcohol may have played a role in this.”
The driver was taken into custody. Police did not identify the individual, but sources said they are from the Bronx.
The investigation is ongoing.