A violent late‑day crash on Manhattan’s Upper West Side left two pedestrians dead and multiple people injured after a suspected drunk driver plowed through an intersection near West 109th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. The NYPD says 61‑year‑old Elvin Suarez was behind the wheel of a 2019 Mercedes‑Benz GLC 300 when the SUV first hit a parked Volkswagen Jetta, vaulted a pedestrian island and struck four people before slamming into a parked Chevrolet Astro van. Two men, Jason Negron, 46, and Michael Saint‑Hilaire, 35, both of Manhattan, died at Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital, while others were treated for injuries and the scene drew a heavy police response. Authorities have arrested Suarez and the NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad is continuing the probe.
The crash unfolded around 6 p.m. on a busy stretch of Amsterdam Avenue that sits close to residential buildings, restaurants and Columbia University. Commuters and neighbors reported chaos as emergency crews flooded the block, and part of Amsterdam Avenue was shut down while investigators examined wreckage and crews removed damaged cars. That part of the Upper West Side is normally crowded at that hour, which only added to the urgency of the rescue effort. Police cordons and tow trucks created a slow, visible cleanup that lasted into the evening.
Investigators say Suarez was driving northbound on Amsterdam Avenue when his Mercedes first struck a parked Volkswagen Jetta just south of West 109th Street. Instead of stopping, the SUV barreled through the intersection, jumped a pedestrian island and slammed into four pedestrians waiting or crossing nearby. Witnesses described a sudden, terrifying scene as bystanders rushed to help the injured while first responders arrived moments later. The initial collisions set off a chain reaction that left multiple vehicles mangled and a neighborhood shaken.
The Mercedes didn’t stop after hitting the pedestrians. Police say it continued through the intersection and crashed into a parked Chevrolet Astro van whose driver, a 51‑year‑old man, was inside. The force of that impact shoved the van into several additional parked cars, damaging a Honda CR‑V, Toyota Sienna, Toyota 4Runner and Nissan Altima, according to authorities. Vehicles that had been fixtures on the curb were left with crushed fenders and shattered glass, evidence of how much momentum the SUV carried. Cleanup crews later described the scene as a multi‑car pileup made worse by the initial strike.
TRUCK HITS PARKED VAN IN MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, PUSHING VEHICLE ONTO SIDEWALK AND INJURING 9 Authorities say the impact pushed the van into several additional parked vehicles, including a Honda CR‑V, Toyota Sienna, Toyota 4Runner and Nissan Altima.
Emergency responders transported Suarez, the 51‑year‑old van occupant and the four pedestrians to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital for treatment. Hospital staff pronounced two of the pedestrians dead: Jason Negron, 46, and Michael Saint‑Hilaire, 35, both Manhattan residents, while the others were treated for serious but initially survivable injuries. Two additional pedestrians, ages 44 and 36, were listed in stable condition, and the van driver was also described as stable by authorities. The hospital became the center of a grim tally as officials confirmed the fatalities and updated family notifications.
REPEAT OFFENDER STREET RACING AT 106 MPH MOWS DOWN EMT AFTER PREVIOUSLY KILLING SOMEONE IN CRASH: POLICE Suarez, the van occupant and two additional pedestrians, ages 44 and 36, were listed in stable condition.
Police arrested Elvin Suarez at the scene and charged him with multiple counts: two counts of manslaughter, three counts of vehicular manslaughter, two counts of vehicular assault and driving while intoxicated. Authorities have not disclosed whether speed was a confirmed factor or released details on what precipitated the initial strike on the Volkswagen. Prosecutors will piece together the timeline from witness statements, video and forensic work by the Collision Investigation Squad, which is leading the investigation. For now, the charges reflect the severity of the outcome and the suspicion that intoxication played a central role.
Officials said parts of Amsterdam Avenue were closed Friday evening so investigators could process the scene and recovery teams could remove the damaged cars. Neighbors watched as tow trucks hauled away wreckage and police photographed the intersection from multiple angles, collecting what they called crucial evidence. Authorities have not indicated whether Suarez has retained an attorney or offered other public comment beyond charging information. The neighborhood, still reeling, is left with questions about how a routine evening turned deadly in a matter of seconds.
The NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad will continue its work to reconstruct the crash and determine the full set of factors involved. That unit specializes in complex crash scenes, using measurements, vehicle inspections and witness accounts to build a factual picture for prosecutors and the public. Until those findings are complete, investigators say they will withhold judgment on specifics such as whether speed or mechanical failure contributed, and they urge anyone with information or video to come forward. The outcome of the probe will guide criminal proceedings and any potential civil actions stemming from the collision.
