Daniel Hyden, 46, was sentenced to 24 years to life after driving while intoxicated into a Fourth of July crowd at Corlears Hook Park in Manhattan, killing four people and injuring seven. Hyden’s truck reached speeds up to 54 mph, ran a stop sign, tore through a fence and did not brake until half a second before impact. A judge convicted him on Nov. 3 after a nonjury trial of four counts of second-degree murder and related assault and vehicular homicide charges. Families read victim impact statements in court as Hyden apologized and prosecutors emphasized that drunk driving will be prosecuted.
Man Sentenced to 24 Years to Life After Driving Intoxicated Into Fourth of July Crowd in Manhattan
Relatives of Lucille Pinkney and her son Herman Pinkney speak to reporters Friday after the sentencing of Daniel Hyden in New York. The mother and son and two other people were killed when Hyden drove into a crowd of people celebrating on July 4, 2024. (Michael R. Sisak / AP)(Michael R. Sisak)
A New Jersey man who drove while intoxicated into a Fourth of July crowd at Corlears Hook Park on Manhattan’s Lower East Side has been sentenced to 24 years to life in state prison, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg announced Friday.
Daniel Hyden, 46, was sentenced for the deadly July 4, 2024 crash that killed four people and injured seven others. Prosecutors said Hyden was driving a Ford F-150 when he ran a stop sign, sped through a construction zone, mounted a sidewalk and reached speeds of up to 54 mph before crashing through a chain-link fence and into a large group gathered at the park.
According to evidence presented at trial, Hyden did not apply his brakes until "one-half second before the final crash." Four people were pinned beneath the truck and seven others were struck or hurt by flying debris. After the vehicle came to a stop, Hyden attempted to flee by reversing the truck until bystanders intervened and removed the key from the ignition, the DA's office said.
Victims and Conviction
The victims who died were identified as Emily Ruiz, 30; Lucille Pinkney, 59; her son Herman Pinkney, 38; and Ana Morel, 43. Following a nonjury trial, a New York state judge found Hyden guilty on Nov. 3 of four counts of second-degree murder, one count of aggravated vehicular homicide, four counts of second-degree assault and three counts of third-degree assault.
Defendant Background and Courtroom Remarks
Court records show Hyden had worked as a substance abuse counselor and authored a book on addiction recovery. In court, he apologized and said he had broken his sobriety after his sister was killed by a drunk driver earlier in 2024; he was reportedly preparing to speak at that other driver's sentencing at the time of the July Fourth crash.
“I’m processing how deeply disturbed and deeply hurt I was and still am. And I’m still processing the amount of people I hurt with my actions,” Hyden said, according to reporting by The Associated Press.
District Attorney Bragg said the victims "went to the celebration not knowing that Daniel Hyden would end their lives that day with his pickup truck." He added that while the sentence cannot undo the deaths and trauma, he hoped it would provide some measure of comfort to those affected and stressed that intoxicated driving puts lives at risk and will be prosecuted.
Sentence: 24 years to life in New York state prison.
Location: Corlears Hook Park, Lower East Side, Manhattan.
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