Two people are dead and three others are in critical condition after a driver lost control and struck pedestrians on a sidewalk in New York City, according to police.
The NYPD said the crash happened at 109th St. and Amsterdam Ave. on Manhattan’s Upper West Side at 6 p.m. Friday when a 61-year-old man — who may have been under the influence — jumped the curb, killing a 35-year-old man and a 46-year-old man.
Three men between the ages of 36 and 52 were rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition, police said.
No charges have been filed against the driver at this time.
The crash happened at West 109th St. and Amsterdam Ave.
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“He was just swerving, driving really fast”
Witnesses described the frightening wreck as people enjoying their night were suddenly mowed down, and at least one man was pinned under a vehicle.
“He was just swerving, driving really fast, and he drove up over the median,” said Eva Santiago, a witness. “We seen the car go up in the air and come down and land on everybody.”
Police said it appeared to be an accident, not an intentional act, but the investigation was ongoing.
One person said the driver seemed confused and disoriented when he got out of his car.
“These are all people from our neighborhood”
Janice Diaz, a retired EMT, said she saw three bodies on the ground and began performing CPR on a man who was unconscious and bleeding in hopes of saving his life.
“I am just yelling, ‘Back up, back up! I’m an EMT, I’m trying to help! Someone help me to hold his head and call 911!'” said Diaz.
According to Diaz, the victims were friends with many other people who were there at the time.
“These are all people from our neighborhood,” Diaz said.
Part of the street remained closed for hours around the mangled vehicles at the scene.
The NYPD warned drivers to “expect heavy traffic and emergency vehicle presence in the vicinity.”
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