NYPD: Monmouth Junction man charged with DWI in crash that killed 3 at NYC park

Daniel Hyden was arrested on charges including driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed driving, police said.

News 12 Staff

Jul 5, 2024, 6:12 PM

Updated 158 days ago

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A Monmouth Junction man was charged in a drunk driving crash that killed three people and injured eight others in New York City on July 4.
The NYPD says that Daniel Hyden, 44, was driving a Ford F-150 down a street “at a high rate of speed” shortly before 9 p.m. Thursday. The truck went through an intersection and past a stop sign, drove onto the sidewalk and into Corlears Hook Park on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, according to NYPD Chief Jeffrey Maddrey.
Hyden was arrested on charges, including driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed driving, police said.
Fire Department Assistant Chief Michael Meyers said the first crew to arrive at the crash scene found the pickup truck on top of four of the victims. Firefighters worked to quickly extricate them before emergency medical personnel began treatment, Meyers said.
Police said those injured in the crash and taken to hospitals included an 11-year-old boy, an 18-year-old woman and several people in their 30s.
The crash happened about a half hour before the start of the Macy's fireworks show and other fireworks displays around New York.
“We had a tragic incident that took place here,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said. “A driver drove into a crowd of people who were actually just celebrating like so many New Yorkers and Americans are doing right now.”
The Associated Press wire services contributed to this report.