Driver who plowed through July Fourth crowd in NYC, killing 3 and injuring 8, held without bail

NEW YORK (AP) — A man who allegedly killed three people and injured eight others after driving his pickup truck through a group celebrating the Fourth of July in Manhattan was ordered held without bail Saturday, New York prosecutors said.

Daniel Hyden, 44, of Monmouth, New Jersey, was arraigned in Manhattan criminal court on multiple counts, including aggravated vehicular homicide, assault and manslaughter, as well as driving while intoxicated and other assault and manslaughter charges, according to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office.

“This is a very tragic case, and we extend our sincere condolences to all those impacted,” said Tim Pruitt, a lawyer with the Legal Aid Society, which is representing him. “But Mr. Hyden is entitled to the presumption of innocence and a zealous defense, and at this preliminary stage in the case, we caution the public from making any rush to judgment.”

Hyden’s next court date is July 10.

The crash happened around 9 p.m. on Thursday, about a half hour before the start of the Macy’s fireworks show and other fireworks displays around New York.

New York City police say Hyden was speeding as he drove his Ford F-150 pickup through Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

He barreled through an intersection and past a stop sign before driving onto the sidewalk and into Corlears Hook Park.

Police say they found his pickup on top of four of the victims. The three killed were identified as Lucille Pinkney, 59; her son Hernan Pinkney, 38; and Ana Morel, 43.

Police said the people who were injured and taken to hospitals included an 11-year-old boy, an 18-year-old woman and several people in their 30s.