A Manhattan court has sentenced 46-year-old Daniel Hayden for causing a massive accident during the Independence Day celebration on July 4, 2024. The man, who drove into a crowd while intoxicated, was sentenced to a term ranging from 24 years to life imprisonment. This was reported by NBC News, writes UNN.
Details
According to court documents, Hayden, while driving a Ford F-150 pickup truck, ignored a stop sign and, at a speed of about 87 km/h, drove onto the sidewalk in Corlears Hook Park. The car crashed through a fence and into a group of people celebrating the Fourth of July.
As a result of the incident, four people died: 30-year-old Emily Ruiz, 59-year-old Lucille Pinkney, her 38-year-old son Herman, and 43-year-old Ana Morel. Seven more people sustained injuries of varying severity. District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg noted that the driver applied the brakes only half a second before the collision, and after stopping, attempted to flee the scene.
Legal details
The court found Hayden guilty on several counts, including:
- four counts of second-degree murder;
- aggravated vehicular homicide;
- numerous counts of second- and third-degree assault.
Notably, the convicted man previously worked as a substance abuse counselor and even wrote a book about overcoming addiction. During the hearing, Hayden apologized to the victims' families.
While this incarceration will not undo the deaths and injuries, I hope the verdict brings comfort to those affected. If you are drunk, do not get behind the wheel; you will be held accountable