NEW YORK, NY — Two men were killed and three other people were seriously injured Friday evening after a car struck several parked vehicles, jumped a curb and hit people sitting outside a barbershop in Manhattan, according to police and local reports. Witnesses described a chaotic scene near West 109th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, where bystanders rushed in to help before emergency crews arrived.
What happened near West 109th Street and Amsterdam Avenue?
The New York Police Department said it was investigating a collision near West 109th Street and Amsterdam Avenue around 7 p.m. on Friday. Police urged drivers to avoid the area as officers worked the scene and began sorting out what led to the crash.
Reports said the vehicle first hit parked cars before mounting the curb and striking people outside the barbershop. One witness told local media the scene looked like a “horror show,” while another described seeing immediate chaos after running outside.
Who was reported to be involved in the crash?
Citing police, The New York Post identified the driver as 61-year-old Elvin Suarez of Morningside Heights. Police said he was taken into custody and transported to a hospital, where his blood was tested for alcohol.
Authorities said the people hit were two men who died, ages 35 and 46, and three others ages 36, 44 and 51 who were taken to nearby hospitals in critical condition.
What do reports say about the victims and witnesses?
Family and friends told The Post that one of the men killed was a father of triplets who worked at a hospital. They said the other man was a doorman who had recently finished his shift.
Witnesses said community members hurried to help the injured and tried to pull the driver from the wrecked vehicle after the impact. David Lawrence, quoted by the outlet, said one victim appeared pinned under the car, while Matt Amsterdam told WABC he found the street in “just chaos.”
What charges and next steps are expected?
Police said the driver faces multiple charges, including manslaughter, vehicular assault and driving while intoxicated. The investigation is still active, and officials have not said what may have caused the driver to lose control.
For now, the case centers on a fatal Manhattan collision that left two men dead, three more people in critical condition and a neighborhood confronting the aftermath of a violent evening crash.
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