A New Jersey man has been sentenced to life in prison plus 24 years after being convicted of killing four people with his pickup truck at a Fourth of July barbecue in Manhattan. Daniel Hyden, 46, was found guilty last year of plowing into the crowd while driving at speeds of over 50 mph without braking until just before impact.
The victims included Lucille Pinkney, Herman Pinkney, Ana Morel, and Emily Ruiz - all residents of nearby public housing projects who were attending a holiday celebration in Corlears Hook Park. Seven others were injured by the truck or debris, with four left struggling to walk. The crash has had a lasting impact on the family and community of the Lower East Side, where it occurred.
In a statement read out in court, Hyden's niece described how the trauma of the event had affected not just her own life but also that of their entire community. Other relatives of the victims delivered emotional statements detailing the long-lasting health effects and post-traumatic stress many are still enduring.
Many have said the Fourth of July will never feel like a celebration again, with one survivor writing that she now lives in fear of being injured while simply trying to enjoy time outdoors. Another victim's sister described how the day of the crash "will forever haunt" her.
The defendant, who previously worked for a substance abuse center and earned a master’s degree in psychology, had initially tried to flee the scene but was stopped by witnesses before he could continue driving. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges against him but was ultimately convicted of second-degree murder, aggravated vehicular homicide, and assault.
The Manhattan District Attorney's office has hailed the sentence as a measure of comfort for those affected by the crash, while also warning others that drinking and driving can have devastating consequences.
The victims included Lucille Pinkney, Herman Pinkney, Ana Morel, and Emily Ruiz - all residents of nearby public housing projects who were attending a holiday celebration in Corlears Hook Park. Seven others were injured by the truck or debris, with four left struggling to walk. The crash has had a lasting impact on the family and community of the Lower East Side, where it occurred.
In a statement read out in court, Hyden's niece described how the trauma of the event had affected not just her own life but also that of their entire community. Other relatives of the victims delivered emotional statements detailing the long-lasting health effects and post-traumatic stress many are still enduring.
Many have said the Fourth of July will never feel like a celebration again, with one survivor writing that she now lives in fear of being injured while simply trying to enjoy time outdoors. Another victim's sister described how the day of the crash "will forever haunt" her.
The defendant, who previously worked for a substance abuse center and earned a master’s degree in psychology, had initially tried to flee the scene but was stopped by witnesses before he could continue driving. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges against him but was ultimately convicted of second-degree murder, aggravated vehicular homicide, and assault.
The Manhattan District Attorney's office has hailed the sentence as a measure of comfort for those affected by the crash, while also warning others that drinking and driving can have devastating consequences.
this dude Daniel Hyden is literally one of the most evil people I've heard of in ages he's got like zero empathy to be convicted of killing 4 people & leaving 7 more injured, it's just insane how someone can go from being a psychology major to committing such heinous crimes. and yeah the family & community of Lower East Side are still dealing with PTSD, it's heartbreaking 
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. And the fact that the driver, who was supposed to be helping others, ended up taking lives instead... it's just devastating 
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. It's clear that the sentence won't bring back the victims, but maybe it can bring some sense of closure for those who've been through so much 
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. Sending all my love and support to the families of the victims 
That's just insane. I don't know how anyone could live with themselves after something like that. The family and community of the Lower East Side are still dealing with the trauma from that day, it's awful 
. My heart goes out to the victims' families and loved ones, may they find some peace eventually 
. I mean, you'd think someone with that kind of education would know better than to get behind the wheel after having a drink or two.
. It's not going to bring back the victims, but it's a start. I hope the community can finally find some peace and that the Fourth of July can be enjoyed by everyone again without fear 
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it's just heartbreaking to think about how one person can change so many lives forever 
[GIF of a truck plowing into a crowd, with the words "Happy Fourth of July?" written above it]
maybe we can use this as an opportunity to re-think our celebrations and make them more safe and inclusive for everyone 
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- your life is worth more than a stupid party, you know? 
This is just heartbreaking man... I mean, how do you even live with yourself after taking the lives of four innocent people? It's like, what were you thinking?! You had a master's degree in psychology, for crying out loud! What kind of psychologist drives into a crowd of people at high speed without braking?! It's insane. The fact that your niece is still struggling to cope with the trauma and it's affecting their whole community... it's just devastating. And what really gets me is that you were stopped by witnesses before you could do any more damage, but I guess that's little consolation when four people are gone forever. Life in prison plus 24 years? It's a good start, but can we ever truly bring back the lives of those who were lost? 
This is just heartbreaking. I feel so bad for the families of those 4 people who lost their lives. My heart goes out to them & all the survivors too 
. And what's even more sad is that this tragedy has had such a lasting impact on an entire community 
. I hope that with time, they can start to heal & rebuild their lives 
. We need to make sure people know how serious it is & what consequences there are 
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] I'm glad the court sentenced him to life in prison, but at what cost? 
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