Driver in deadly July 4 crash in New York indicted on a slew of charges

NEW YORK – The man accused of He killed three people when he allegedly drove drunk into a crowd on the Lower East Side on July 4 He was arraigned on a number of charges on Saturday.

Daniel Hyden, of Monmouth Junction, New Jersey, is charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, aggravated vehicular assault, involuntary manslaughter, assault and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. Hyden was also driving with a suspended license, prosecutors said.

Hyden, 44, appeared before a judge Saturday morning. His face was still swollen and covered in stitches after police said he was… He was pulled from his truck and held by the crowd. It is believed to have crashed into…

According to prosecutors, Hyden drove a Ford F-150 pickup truck into the crowd at Corlears Hook Park shortly before 9 p.m. Thursday. He allegedly ran a stop sign at the intersection of Water and Cherry streets, mounted the sidewalk, crashed through the chain-link fence and into the crowd.

Eleven people were killed or injured, according to prosecutors. The three people killed were identified as Lucille Pinkney, 59, and her son Herman Pinkney, 38, and Ana Morel, 43. One other person was seriously injured and seven others were hospitalized. The youngest victim was 11 years old, according to prosecutors.

Responding police officers said they found Hyden on the ground next to the driver’s side door, wearing pants but no shirt or shoes. His eyes were bloodshot, he was staggering and there was “a strong odor of alcoholic beverage on his breath.”

“This is a very sad case, but Mr. Hyden, like anyone else accused of a crime, is entitled to diligent representation, and that is exactly what he will receive,” said Timothy Pruitt, Hyden’s court-appointed attorney.

Pruitt did not answer further questions.

“Justice must be done”

Thomas Curto, a friend of the victims, was in the courtroom during Hyden’s arraignment to support the victims’ families.

“I got angry. He refuses to raise his head… There is evidence against you. Raise your head,” she said.

Luz Leon told CBS New York that her cousin Ana Morel was fun and loved to party, but also someone she turned to for advice. Morel is survived by her heartbroken mother and her 25-year-old son, who Leon said is still struggling to come to terms with her death.

“We shouldn’t have these types of people out on the streets endangering people and killing people,” Leon said. “Nothing in this world could bring back my cousin or those people who died that day. But justice must be served. And that would be the equivalent of him being in jail for the rest of his life.”

Hyden is due back in court on July 10.

A vigil for the victims will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday at Corlears Hook Park.