MANHATTAN, NY – A vehicle plowed into a crowd celebrating Independence Day in Lower Manhattan, killing at least two people and injuring several others. The tragic incident, involving a gray Ford F-150 pickup truck, occurred at the intersection of Water Street and Cherry Street in Corlears Hook Park on Thursday around 8:55 p.m. local time, as confirmed by the New York Police Department.
Authorities shared that the truck sped onto the sidewalk and into the park, hitting revelers who were gathered there to mark the holiday. In total, there were nine confirmed injuries, with two fatalities at the scene. The investigation, which is still preliminary, suggests alcohol is a key factor in the incident.
Eric Adams, the mayor of NYC, expressed his distress, stating that the victims were merely “celebrating like so many New Yorkers and Americans are doing right now.” Although the driver was suspected to be under the influence, there seems to be no connection to terrorist-related activity.
According to Michael Meyers, FDNY Chief, four of the victims were critically injured, three seriously hurt, and two in relatively stable conditions. Moreover, witnesses reportedly restrained the driver to prevent him from leaving the crash site before first responders arrived, indicating that a family with young children was among the victims.
Following the incident, local residents expressed their shock and distress, with some stating that this kind of violence had never been witnessed in the area before, causing fear among the children.