NEW YORK, NY — Police say the driver accused of causing a deadly crash on an Upper Manhattan sidewalk was charged after testing above the legal alcohol limit. The wreck killed two people and left three others badly hurt after a seven-vehicle chain reaction in Morningside Heights.
Investigators identified the driver as Elvin Suarez of Morningside Heights and said his breath test registered 0.1, above the state limit of 0.08. The crash happened near Amsterdam Avenue and West 109th Street Friday evening, close to Suarez’s home.
What happened at Amsterdam Avenue and West 109th Street?
Police said the crash began when Suarez sideswiped another vehicle on East 108th Street, triggering a sequence that involved seven vehicles. The incident ended when his car struck a group of people sitting outside a barbershop.
Witnesses described severe damage at the scene, including one man being pinned between the car and an electronic parking kiosk. A bystander called the wreck a “horror show,” according to the report from the scene.
Who was killed in the crash?
The two victims were identified as Michael Saint-Hilaire, 35, a father of triplets, and Jason Negron, 46, who worked as a doorman. Police said both men were taken to the hospital in critical condition but could not be saved.
Three other men, ages 36, 44 and 51, were also hospitalized in critical condition. One of the injured men later needed hip surgery and had spinal injuries, according to a person at the scene.
What charges and test results did police announce?
Authorities said Suarez was charged with multiple counts of manslaughter, vehicular assault and driving while intoxicated. Police sources said he was taken to a hospital after the crash and had his blood tested for alcohol.
A source said the breathalyzer result came back at 0.1, which is above the legal limit. Officials have not released additional details about the criminal case beyond the initial charges.
What are witnesses and neighbors saying?
People who knew those involved said the victims and the driver had all grown up together. One witness said he knew the men who were hurt and remained in shock after learning the extent of the damage.
Neighbors near the driver’s building described a group of men who often gathered nearby, drank beer, and left bottles and trash around the area. One church worker said he knew Suarez and had seen the group sitting outside for long stretches during the day.
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