Daniel Hyden, of Monmouth Junction, was operating a a grey Ford F-150 at a high rate of speed when he ran through a stop sign at the Water and Jackson street intersection just before 9 p.m. on the Lower East Side, the NYPD said.
Hyden went up onto the sidewalk and plowed into groups of people celebrating the Fourth of July at Corlears Hook Park, police said.
Four people struck had been pinned underneath the truck, firefighters said at the press conference. Good Samaritans grabbed Hyden and made sure he didn't leave until first responders arrived, officials said.
Hyden identifies himself as an addiction counselor his Instagram profile, which also advertises an adult coloring book that he penned to help others achieve sobriety.
Those who died were identified as a 59-year-old woman, 38-year-old man, an unidentified female. Others hospitalized include a 30-year-old woman, a 35-year-old woman, a 36-year-old woman, 37-year-old man, 33-year-old woman, 11-year-old boy, 38-year-old man, and an 18-year-old woman, the NYPD said.
Hyden has been charged with eight counts of assault/recklessly causing serious injury with a weapon, aggravated vehicular homicide, DWI, and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
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