NEW YORK, NY — Police say a suspected drunk driver lost control of a Mercedes-Benz SUV and struck several people on the sidewalk outside a barbershop on Manhattan’s Upper West Side Friday evening. Two men died at the scene, and three others were hospitalized in critical condition.
Investigators said surveillance video captured the SUV first hitting a parked car two blocks away, then continuing down the block before veering toward the sidewalk near West 109th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.
Who were the victims and how many people were hurt?
Authorities identified the two men who were killed as Jason Negron, 46, and Michael Saint-Hilaire, 35. Police said both were pronounced dead at the scene after the crash.
Three other men were taken to St. Luke’s Hospital with critical injuries. Witnesses described one person trapped under the vehicle and another bleeding after the impact.
What did witnesses and video show at the scene?
Neighbors said the men were sitting in folding chairs outside the barbershop when the SUV struck them. Video reviewed by police showed at least three people standing behind a brown van just before the crash.
Residents said the space in front of the shop is a regular gathering place for people in the neighborhood, which made the collision especially jarring for those nearby.
What charges does the driver face?
Police identified the driver as Elvin Suarez, 61, and said he was suspected of driving while intoxicated when the crash happened. He was taken into custody after the incident.
According to police, Suarez faces charges of manslaughter, vehicular assault and driving while intoxicated. Information for his attorney was not immediately available.
What happens next in the investigation?
The NYPD has not released additional details about what led Suarez to lose control of the SUV. The crash sequence, including the earlier impact with the parked car on West 107th Street, remains part of the investigation.
For now, the case centers on how the vehicle moved from a minor collision to a deadly sidewalk crash in a busy residential area, leaving a neighborhood shaken and multiple families facing serious losses.
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