A wellness advocate and substance abuse counselor named Daniel Hyden, 44, has been accused of causing a fatal accident on the Fourth of July in New York City. Hyden was driving a Ford F-150 truck at a high speed when he crashed into a group of people at Corlears Hook Park in the Lower East Side, killing three individuals and injuring eight others.
The deceased victims have been identified as Lucille Pinkney, 59, her son Hernan Pinkney, 38, and an unidentified female. Among the injured victims was an 11-year-old child. Responding officers detected the smell of alcohol on Hyden’s breath and he has since been charged with driving while intoxicated and operating a vehicle without a license. He is expected to face additional charges.
Hyden, who authored a book called “The Sober Addict” in 2020, describes himself as an “ex-professional addict” with extensive experience in addiction. He claims that addicts do not choose addiction, but rather addiction chooses them. Prior to this incident, Hyden had a previous arrest for assault in February and a traffic offense related to driving under the influence in Wisconsin in 2015.
During the accident, four victims, including the three deceased individuals, were found trapped underneath the truck. Firefighters had to use airbags, floor jacks, and cribbing to lift the vehicle off of the victims. Mayor Eric Adams confirmed that the victims were innocent individuals who were simply out celebrating when the tragedy occurred, and he assured the incident was not related to terrorism.
The tragic event at Corlears Hook Park serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of drunk driving and the importance of responsible behavior behind the wheel. It also highlights the need for stricter enforcement of laws related to driving under the influence and the potential dangers that can arise from reckless behavior on the road. It is essential for individuals to prioritize safety and make responsible choices to prevent similar tragedies in the future.