Suspected drunk driver crashes into a park on the Lower East Side in Manhattan, two dead and seven injured

LOWER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) – According to police, two people were killed and seven others were injured when a suspected drunk driver drove his vehicle into a park on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, trapping some of the victims.

The accident occurred shortly before 9 p.m. at 645 Water Street.

Eyewitness News obtained exclusive surveillance video as the truck travels east on Water Street at a high rate of speed.

According to officials, the truck sped through the intersection of Water and Cherry streets, struck a fence and then sped through a crowd that included a family who were having a Fourth of July Independence Day picnic at the time.

Rescue workers arrived on scene within three minutes and found four victims trapped under the gray Ford F-150 pickup truck.

The FDNY worked with the NYPD ESU to remove the patients from under the vehicle.

In total, two victims were pronounced dead, two victims are in critical condition, three victims are in serious condition and two victims are expected to survive.

Among the hospital patients are a mother and her two small children.

The driver, suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol, was detained by Good Samaritans until police arrived at the scene.

Mayor Eric Adams said there is currently no suspicion of terrorism, but the investigation is ongoing.

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